Sri Lanka leaps to 3rd place, England falls to fifth

Dubai, Dec 22 (UNI) The rain may have helped England save the third Test match but it could not prevent it from losing the series to Sri Lanka or from slipping three places to fifth position in the LG ICC Test Championship table.

In the process, South Africa replaces England in second position ahead of its Test series with the West Indies.

India stays fourth but will be hoping to improve on that position as its four-Test series with Australia also gets underway on Wednesday in Melbourne.

However, all the teams are playing second fiddle to Australia, which is way out in front at the top with 143 ratings points.

In fact, even if Australia was to lose the upcoming series with India 4-0, it would still lead Anil Kumble's team by 10 points.

There are now just two ratings points separating the Proteas in second position and Michael Vaughan's England team in fifth. Indeed, so close is it that the teams in second, third and fourth spots can only be separated when their ratings points are calculated beyond the decimal point.

LG ICC Test Championship table: 1. Australia (143), 2. South Africa (109), 3. Sri Lanka (109), 4. India (109), 5. England (107), 6. Pakistan (94), 7. New Zealand (91), 8. West Indies (72), 9. Bangladesh (4).

UNI