The Proteas have cut India’s lead in the ICC Test rankings to only six points after the annual ICC rankings update.

The latest update is not influenced by teams’ performances during 2013-14, while results from the 2015-16 season are weighted at 50%. It means that South Africa’s ranking is no longer negatively affected by the 2-1 home-series loss to Australia during the 2013-14 season.

Furthermore, the Proteas also endured a torrid 2015-16 that begin with a 0-0 series draw against Bangladesh. The Proteas then lost 3-0 in India, which was their first away-series loss in ten years. The Proteas then returned home to face England. Their disastrous run continued as they went down 2-1 in the four-match series.

Since then, however, their results have been greatly improved. They beat Australia 2-1 to secure their third consecutive Test series win on Australian soil, and they backed up their fine showing Down Under with a 3-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka. Faf du Plessis and his side then brought the curtain down on a very successful 2016-17 Test summer by travelling to New Zealand, where they recorded a 1-0 series victory.

This summer’s fantastic Test results have allowed South Africa to build a substantial 17-point lead over Australia.

ICC Test Team Rankings

Rank    Team               Points

1.             India                 123 (+1)

2.            South Africa     117 (+8)

3.           Australia            100 (-8)

4.           England             99 (-2)

5.           New Zealand     97 (+1)

6.           Pakistan             93 (-4)

7.           Sri Lanka           91 (+1)

8.          West Indies       75 (+5)

9.          Bangladesh       69 (+3)

10.        Zimbabwe         0 (-5)