England closes in on second-placed South Africa

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Third-placed England has narrowed the gap with second-ranked South Africa while India has continued to dominate the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship following the conclusion of Test series in Australia and South Africa.
England, which had entered the Ashes series on 112 ratings points, has jumped to 115 ratings points after its 3-1 victory over Australia. Andrew Strauss’s side now trails Graeme Smith’s men by just two ratings points.
The Proteas, which started against India on 116 ratings points, has gained one ratings point and has moved to 117 ratings points following a one-all draw in the series which ended in Cape Town on Thursday.
India though has dropped one ratings point but it continues to lead South Africa by 11 ratings as it is now on 128 ratings points.
For Australia, the news is not so good and its first Ashes defeat in 24 years on home soil has meant it has dropped to fifth on the table. The defeat has cost Australia three ratings points which has put it two points behind Sri Lanka on 107.
Meanwhile, the two-Test series between New Zealand and Pakistan started in Hamilton today.
In this series, the Black Caps will have the opportunity to improve on its current position of number eight and rise to as high as sixth.
But to make this happen, it would have to win both Tests which would put it alongside the West Indies on 85 ratings points but ahead by a fraction.
Pakistan, which will drop to eighth position on 82 ratings points if it is loses both the Tests, in contrast, can earn four ratings points and rise to 92 ratings points if the results a