England have replaced South Africa in second position in the International Cricket Council’s rankings for Test teams.

England, who recently completed a three-nil series win over Sri Lanka, have 108 points to the Proteas’ 106.

India lead the log, while New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan occupy fourth, fifth and sixth position, respectively.

Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe follow in seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

South Africa have not played the longest format of the international game since July, when they lost to Sri Lanka. Captain Faf du Plessis’ men will face Pakistan later this year. England are preparing for a challenging Test series against the West Indies.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, meanwhile, has returned to the top of the International Cricket Council’s rankings for Test bowlers.

Rabada has displaced England fast bowler James Anderson at the helm of the rankings.

The Proteas star has 882 points to the Englishman’s 874.

Anderson took just one wicket in the opening Tests against Sri Lanka recently – and was rested for the third.

He surpassed Australia’s Glenn McGrath as Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, among seamers, earlier this year. He currently has 565 to McGrath’s 563.

Rabada has not played a Test since July – and is currently representing the Jozi Stars in the inaugural Mzansi Super League.

Photo: Gallo