India have retained the fourth position in the ICC Test team rankings but England, currently placed just a spot behind the Asian cricketing giant, have a chance to move up the ladder during the upcoming Ashes series against Australia.
When the series starts in Cardiff on Wednesday, both England and Australia would bid to hold possession of the prestigious Urn and also climb up the rankings table.
England <g data-gr-id="19">are</g> on fifth position on 97 points, trailing India, and ahead of Pakistan by a fraction of a point, while Australia are in second spot on 111 points. England <g data-gr-id="17">have</g> an opportunity to move to as high as second if they win the series by <g data-gr-id="18">3-0</g> margin or better, but will drop to as low as seventh if Australia win all five Tests. In contrast, Australia will jump to 118 points to reduce the gap with number-one ranked South Africa to 12 points but will drop to fourth if England win all the five Tests irrespective of how the Pallekele Test ends.
In fact, a 3-0 or 4-1 result in favour of England will mean Australia will drop behind England in third position.