Australia’s Test top rank hanging by a thread

Australia are likely to be dethroned from the top of Test cricket’s world rankings in the first series since they rose to No. 1, after crushing defeats in their first two Tests in Sri Lanka. Moreover, with India’s imminent 13-Test home season, it may be some time before Steven Smith’s men can reach the summit again.

It was only two weeks ago that Smith was handed the Test Championship mace by ICC chief executive David Richardson – in a ceremony that was kept private at Sri Lanka Cricket’s request. But Australia’s pair of defeats to Sri Lanka, in which they were exposed as having little to no idea of how to bat in Asian conditions, has left the door open for England or India to ascend to No. 1, perhaps leaving Smith’s team as low as third.

Australia’s chances of remaining at No. 1 now depend on favours by Pakistan and West Indies, who are currently trailing in their respective Test series against England and India. England would go to the top by winning the final Test against Pakistan, while wins in the final two Tests over West Indies would take India there. In the medium term, India’s long upcoming home season, which includes Test series against England and Australia, gives them a good chance of building a lead at the top of the table.

“It would be very disappointing if we lost that – we haven’t had it for that long, we were really hoping to try and stretch the gap,” allrounder Mitchell Marsh said. “We’ve got the opportunity to win this next Test match and that’s all we can do. It means a hell of a lot. It’s what we strive for. In the Test arena you don’t play for a premiership, you play to be number one in the world and that’s what we strive for every day. Any team that gets knocked off the perch as the No. 1 Test team in the world, it would certainly hurt everyone.”

The “hurt” would extend beyond pride to …

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