BANGLORE  - India have slipped to fifth in the latest ICC Test rankings which were announced after annual update on Saturday while England have extended their domination at the top. This is India's lowest ranking since July 2007 when they were in same position, fifth.
India's lowest ICC Test ranking is No. 8 from August 1999 to September 2000. After the annul update of team Test rankings by International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday, Australia have moved to second while South Africa are third followed by Pakistan.
ICC (@cricketicc) tweeted on Saturday evening, writing: "England extend lead as top Test team after annual Reliance ICC Rankings update." The rankings were later updated on ICC website.
"Latest table reflects all Test series completed since August 2009 with results from previous year having dropped off," ICC wrote on the micro blogging site. In another tweeted, ICC wrote: "Australia is now second, South Africa third, Pakistan (4th), India (5th) after annual update of Reliance ICC Test rankings."
In the rankings updated till July 12, 2012, India were placed fourth and Pakistan fifth. Now they have swapped places. Pakistan lost a three-Test series against Sri Lanka by 1-0 margin recently. Later this month, the top-ranked England will face third-placed South Africa in a three-Test series at home.
India were number one in Tests, under MS Dhoni, but lost the top ranking after losing 0-4 to England in their conditions in 2011. Later they lost to Australia by a same margin earlier this year.
Dhoni and his team lost eight successive overseas Tests and will now be seen in five-day format next month when New Zealand arrive in India.
ICC Test Championship
Team    Matches    Points    Rating
England    32    3983    122   
Australia    34    3952    116   
South Africa    21    2364    113   
Pakistan    29    3148    109   
India    29    3004    104   
Sri Lanka    29    2834    98   
New Zealand    18    1568    87   
West Indies    25    2098    84   
Bangladesh    12    0    0