Eng topple Pak to be 2nd in ICC rankings

India was at the fourth place while Sri Lanka consolidated its position at the fifth spot with a nerve-jangling one-wicket win over South Africa.

England toppled Pakistan from second spot in the LG-ICC Test rankings after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in their four-match series to make sure the Ashes remains a battle of top two teams.

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England beat Pakistan by 167 runs at Headingley on Tuesday to clinch the series. But the gap between England and toppers Australia ahead of their series beginning in Brisbane in November is still to be decided.

It could be as few as 11 rating points if England beat Pakistan again at The Oval in the fourth Test, starting on 17 August, and so claim a 3-0 victory.

Whatever is the result, the positions of the top four teams will remain unchanged, other than a few points difference between them, according to an ICC release in Dubai.

England's series win is its first since it beat Australia 2-1 last year to reclaim The Ashes while, for Pakistan, it is its first loss in a series since it lost all three Tests against Ricky Ponting's side in 2004/05.

Sri Lanka is now eight points behind India while South Africa, in sixth spot, has lost four rating points and is now just two points ahead of New Zealand.