Looking Precarious

ICC TEST RANKINGS

• England - 125 points
• South Africa - 117
• India - 111
• Australia - 111
• Pakistan - 99
• Sri Lanka - 98
• West Indies 88
• New Zealand - 83
• Bangladesh - 8

England need to beat Pakistan in the final Test of the series to be sure of retaining their number one spot in the rankings at the 1st April cut-off.  Should England lose, they will finish on 118 points and South Africa will take over if they win all three Tests of their series against New Zealand in March.

If England draw the final Test in Dubai they will end on 119 points but still lose their status at the top of the rankings, by 0.01 of a point, provided South Africa sweep the Black Caps.

Pakistan are fifth but if they complete a 3-0 series win over England they will close the gap on India and Australia in third and fourth to only three points.

All to play for then, but I wonder when we'll see the next batting collapse- and which side it will be...