England Tour an Opportunity for India to Rise in ICC Test Rankings
Depending upon the outcome of the five-Test series, both India and England can go as high as number three or drop to as low as number seven in the ICC Test rankings.
The Indian cricket team has a chance to go up a rung and be third in the ICC rankings if it beats England in the upcoming five-Test series starting July 9. (Also read: Dhoni turns 33, records beckon in England)
As things stand at present, India occupy fourth position with 102 ratings points, while England are a spot behind with 100 ratings points. (Also read: Batsmen may breathe easy in first Test as curator hints at all-round pitch)
Depending upon the outcome of the Test series, both teams can go as high as number three or drop to as low as number seven. (Also read: 'There will be serious questions if Dhoni loses the Test series')
For India, the equation is straightforward -- a series win will be sufficient to help it leapfrog Pakistan into third position, the ICC said in a statement.
However, a vault up the rankings is a bit trickier for England, who need to win the series by a difference of no less than two Tests to take on the third place. Victory by just one Test will help them swap places with India.
Meanwhile, both teams can potentially drop to number seven. If India win all five Tests, Alastair Cook's side will plummet to seventh position, while a 4-1 series result will see England slip to sixth. Conversely, if England win the series 4-0 or better, India will drop to seventh spot. (Read: Kohli, Pujara hold key to India's success in England)
Movement is also expected on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen.
India's Cheteshwar Pujara, static in seventh place, will have the opportunity to break into the top five, while Virat Kohli, who currently occupies 10th position, will have the chance to consolidate his place in the top 10. (Also read: When Yuvraj sought Sachin's blessings and Lord's cheered)
Pujara trails fifth-ranked Shivnarine Chanderpaul by 35 ratings points, while Kohli needs 16 ratings points to both move ahead of Ross Taylor of New Zealand and also break the 800-point barrier.
Ian Bell, in 18th place, is the only batsman from England to find a place among the top 20.
Outside the top 20, batsmen likely to be seen in action from both the sides are Alistair Cook (21st), Joe Root (26th), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29th), Matt Prior (32nd), Rohit Sharma (33rd), Murali Vijay (42nd), Ajinikya Rahane (45th) and Shikhar Dhawan (50th).
Gary Ballance and Sam Robson, who did well for England against Sri Lanka, are in 83rd and 94th places, respectively.
India's Ravichandran Ashwin, in seventh position, is the highest-ranked bowler from either side in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. James Anderson (12th) and Stuart Broad (14th) are the other bowlers to feature inside the top 20.
Other bowlers to watch out for are Ishant Sharma (23rd), Ravindra Jadeja (26th), Mohammed Shami (33rd), Ben Stokes (46th), Liam Plunkett (50th), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (73rd) and Chris Woakes (118th).