Sport Today

After the SL test win, does IND go up to No. 2 in the ICC rankings OR do
they have to win the series for that

If AUS somehow loses to SAF in the test series;
and IND beats ENG and PAK in their forthcoming series;

then IND may be No. 1 in the ICC rankings

.. if wishes were horses, beggars would ride ...
.. if ifs and buts were pots and pans, there would be tinker all over

Nothing changes mid-series, thus India is ranked three at the moment.

For India to overtake England at the end of the Ind-SL series, they require
only a draw in the final match.  A 1-0 series win would improve India's
rating to 113.44, just sufficient to pip England's current 113.40.
Obviously a win to India in the third Test against Sri Lanka would make the
margin more clear-cut.

Yes, it's possible.

If India defeats Sri Lanka 2-0, then beats both of Pakistan and England 3-0,
they will finish the series against England with a rating of 123, which
would take them to number one if Australia loses its home series to South
Africa by at least two clear Tests (i.e. either 2-0 or 3-0):

India (2-0 v SL, 3-0 v Pak, 3-0 v Eng): 123.11
Aus (0-2 v SAf): 122.63  or (0-3 v SAf): 121.57

Of course by the time Ind-Eng finishes, the return SAf-Aus series will have
started, and on completion will change the figures again.

<snip>

Andrew

I dont india is going to be beating Pakistan 3-0 and neither is
australia going to lose to rsa 0-2. However, I think the number 2 spot
will be up for contention during the Pakistan/India series.

regards
Aqeel

I doubt anybody else thinks so, either.

The obvious confrontation for second spot is current second against third
i.e. India v England.  Whatever India manages against Pakistan could be
overriden then.

Andrew

Andrew with Simon Jones possibly coming back against India and with
Michael Vaughn fully fit, England will probably be a lot different
proposition than they were in Pakistan

Shariq

Indeed - I was merely laying out what is mathematically possible.  The
combination of India winning eight straight matches and Australia losing 2-0
at home to South Africa is a tad unlikely.

Andrew

Vaughan was there for two test matches and he didn't do anything
extraordinarily different than what has been the norm in his recent
tours.

Simon Jones's return would be a great boost for the side, although he
still has to prove himself in these conditions. Still, the way
Hoggard, Harmison and Flintoff bowled for at least the first two test
matches must be encouraging for Jones.

In any case, I won't say 'England will probably be a lot different
proposition in India' just because of Jones' inclusion, but yes they
'll definitely have to play better in India to win. Their failure in
Pakistan, was a result of their carelessness, misfortune,
unfamiliarity with the conditions and also some inspirational
performance by opponents and not because that their squad wasn't full
strength.

I'd say that the biggest change from the side that's touring Pakistan
to the one that 'll be in India in two month's time is that most team
members will be lot more experienced and will know what they have to
do to win in these parts of the world. Whether they can execute on
those plans is a different matter.
--
Noman

Looks like Ashley Giles will not be touring ... that means the only
half-decent spinner in the English side will be out of the side.

I don't know what the long-term condition of Kevin Pietersen is... he
had to go back from Pak.

On the other hand England will be well rested after Pak, where as India
still have 4 tests and 5 ODO;s to go.

Is that confirmed?  I thought Giles was pretty confident that he'll tour.
As were Jones and Vaughan.

Past record, at least the recent past, suggests that the Indians play well
when there is uninterrupted cricket and suck royally after a long break.

SP