India presented themselves with a nice gift on the eve of 60th anniversary of
Independence, as their first series win in England in 21 years pushed them
to third place in the ICC Test Championship table.
The 1-0 success against England in the three-Test series earned Rahul Dravid's
men five rating points and lifted them above both South Africa and Sri
Lanka.
Though India have the same number of points as Sri Lanka,
but are placed above them after their rating points were recalculated to three
decimal places, a statement from the ICC said.
A victory in the final Test at the Oval could have put India
in second place with 107 points alongside England, with latter marginally ahead
after recalculating by decimal places.
As it were, India are now four points behind England with the
home side dropping four points following its first home series loss since the
4-1 reverse against Australia in 2001.
By securing a draw at the Oval, England have a cushion from
their nearest rivals but the series loss has meant the gap between them and
top side Australia has grown from 26 to 30 rating points.
India's series win, secured by virtue of a drawn first Test
at Lords and victory in the second match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham by seven
wickets, is their first in England since its 2-0 success in the three-match
clash of 1986.
India's only other success in England was the 1-0 win in 1971.
ICC Test Championship table: 1. Australia - 141; 2. England
- 111; 3. India - 107; 4. Sri Lanka - 107; 5. South Africa - 102, 6. Pakistan
- 99; 7. New Zealand - 99; 8. West Indies - 72; 9. Bangladesh - 4.
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