Dubai: India retained their number one test ranking on Thursday after completing a thrilling victory over South Africa in the second and final test of the series in Kolkata which put an end to Australia’s seven-year run of finishing on the top spot at the annual cut-off date.

The win also entitles Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men to pocket USD 175, 000, which is given to the team that tops the chart at the annual cut-off date of April 1. India will also retain the ICC Championships Mace which they won after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the home series in December last year.

India almost lost out on the top spot to South Africa after the tourists won the Nagpur Test last week and then bad weather on Wednesday allowed only 31 overs of play on the penultimate day of the second Test. However, Harbhajan Singh (5/59) and Amit Mishra (3/78) ensured that South Africa was bowled out for 290 despite a fighting 127 not out by Hashim Amla, his second century of the Test, and third of the series in as many innings.

The 1-1 series result meant that the pre-series status quo in terms of positions on the table is maintained, though India (124) lost one rating point while South Africa has stayed second on 120 points. Australia (116) is third in the ICC Test chart, followed by Sri Lanka (115) and England (107).

Although Bangladesh will host England for a two-Test series and Australia will be touring New Zealand for a two-Test series before the cut-off date, the situation at the top of the table is such that none of the four teams, no matter what the outcome of the two series’ is capable of toppling India.

This is the first time that India has topped the ICC Test chart at the annual cut-off date since the rankings were introduced in June 2003. In 2008, it finished second while it was placed third in 2005 and 2006, fourth in 2007 and sixth in 2004.

Meanwhile, it was another heartbreak for Graeme Smith and his men. The Proteas once again came painfully close to achieving the top spot but will have to settle with a USD 75,000 cheque which is presented to the side that finishes second.

Last year too, they needed a series win to finish at the top of the Test table at the April 1 cut-off date but lost the home series to Australia 1-2 and finished nine ratings points behind Ricky Ponting’s side.

Tagged with: Australia, Dubai, Graeme Smith, ICC Test Championship, India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, South Africa

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