INDIA: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on May 2, 2023, that India had overtaken Australia in the Test rankings and were set to enter the World Test Championship Final as the top-ranked team in the world.
The rankings update was based on performances in Test matches completed since May 2020, with older series weighted at 50% and subsequent series weighted at 100%.
Australia, which had been in the top spot with 122 points, was brought down to the second position in the rankings. This marks the end of their 15-month reign as the No. 1 test team in the world. On the other hand, India’s rise to the top comes after their impressive performance in Test matches over the last few years.
It is worth noting that the ICC Test rankings are updated regularly, and rankings can change depending on the teams’ performance in Test matches.
Nonetheless, India’s rise to the top of the rankings is a significant achievement, putting them in a strong position ahead of the World Test Championship Final at the Oval.
India’s ascent to the top of the ICC Test rankings also highlights the growing competitiveness of Test cricket. There has been a shift in recent years towards limited-overs cricket, with leagues like the Indian Premier League and The Hundred gaining popularity among fans.
However, Test cricket still remains the ultimate challenge for cricketers, and teams like India have demonstrated that there is still a place for the traditional format of the game.
The World Test Championship, which was introduced in 2019, has further added to the allure of Test cricket by providing teams with an opportunity to compete for a world title in the game’s longest format.
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