Australia have a chance to reclaim top spot in the Reliance ICC Team Test Rankings when they face Pakistan in the two Test series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
A two-nil series win over Pakistan will lift Michael Clarke’s charges to the top of the summit – one point clear of South Africa, who currently hold top spot.
A one-nil series victory will move Australia to join South Africa level on 124 points, but the Proteas will continue to hold the slenderest of 0.24 of an advantage.
In contrast, a one-nil victory for sixth-place Pakistan, who lie level on points with India, will move them up two ratings places to fourth, while a 2-0 win will push them even further up the ladder into third place, 12 points behind Australia.
Australia were most recently the number-one ranked Test side between May and July 2014, before South Africa overtook them.
In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Team Batsmen, Australia will be looking to the fit-again Clarke (seventh) and their top-ranked batsman David Warner (fifth) to lay the platform in its innings.
Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan sit in 10th and 11th position respectively, with both batsmen separated by just three ratings points and aiming to maintain an upward trajectory.
In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Australia have three bowlers well-positioned to improve their ratings: Mitchell Johnson (4th), Peter Siddle (12th) and off-spinner Nathan Lyon (18th).
Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings (as on 21 October, ahead of the Pakistan-Australia series)
Rank Team Rating
1 South Africa 124
2 Australia 123
3 England 104
4 Sri Lanka 101
5 India 96
6 Pakistan 96
7 New Zealand 93
8 West Indies 75
9 Zimbabwe 39
10 Bangladesh 19