The Proteas’ series win against Sri Lanka bumps them to third on the ICC Test Rankings. 

After a 2-1 series defeat to England in December-January 2015-16, the Proteas sat seventh on the rankings. Since then, they went on to beat New Zealand 1-0 and followed this with a 2-1 series win in Australia in November 2016.

Their 282-run win which claimed a 2-0 lead and a series win in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, bumped them up one spot from No 4 to No 3 with 102 points, above England who sit in fourth with 101 points and Pakistan in fifth who slip further down the pecking order after a 3-0 series defeat to Australia after a 220-run loss in Sydney on Saturday.

Pakistan lost five points to slip to 97 points, just one point ahead of New Zealand, who beat Pakistan 2-0 in November.

The Proteas will take on Sri Lanka in the third and final Test match at the Wanderers on Thursday and could rise to 107 points with a 3-0 win and to 105 points if the series ends with a 2-0 win. Even if Sri Lanka wins the last Test in Johannesburg, SA will gain two points, taking them to 104 points with a 2-1 series victory.

This is promising for SA as they hunt down Australia, who sit on 109 points in second position.

See rankings here