Series whitewash against NZ won`t improve India`s Test ranking

Dubai: A 2-0 Test series victory against New Zealand would earn India two rating points but that won`t change their position in the ICC Test Ranking table.

India, who are currently placed at fifth position, five ratings points behind fourth-ranked Pakistan, can gain two points, which can put them on 106 points. Pakistan are on 109 points. In that case, New Zealand will lose four points to go down to 76 ratings points. However, if the series result is reversed, then India will slip behind Sri Lanka into sixth position and New Zealand will reduce the 10-point difference with the seventh-ranked West Indies to just one rating point. In case of a one-all series result, India will concede three ratings points, while New Zealand will gain three ratings points. In Test batsmen and bowlers rankings chart, veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan occupy the 10th and 12th spots to be the only Indian cricketers in list, respectively, issued on Tuesday. Tendulkar has 749 rating points, while Zaheer has 697 points. South Africa`s fast bowler Vernon Philander has achieved a career-best second position after inspiring his side to a 51-run victory over England in the third Test at Lord`s last night, which gave the Proteas a 2-0 series win, and, with it, the No.1 position in the Test rankings. Philander`s teammate Hashim Amla, who was adjudged player of the series for his aggregate of 482 runs (average 120.5), has reclaimed his No. 2 spot, which he last held in February 2010. Amla now trails top ranked Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka by 23 ratings points. PTI