…Ponting’s men removed from top spot for first time since 2003
AUSTRALIA has been knocked off its long-held perch as the number-one team in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship after losing the Ashes series 1-2 in England.

England won the final Test at the Oval by 197 runs and regained the Ashes sparking joyful scenes across sunny south London. But for the visitors, the picture was far more bleak.

Ricky Ponting’s side has now slipped to fourth position in the rankings with South Africa assuming top spot due to Australia’s demise.

Such is the competitive nature of Test cricket at present, there are now just six ratings points separating the Proteas and Australia with Sri Lanka currently occupying second spot, ahead of India in third by just a fraction of a point.

For being defeated by fifth-placed England in the series, Australia loses eight ratings points and is knocked off top spot for the first time since the current method of ranking was introduced in May 2003. The Test team rankings are only updated at the end of each series.

For its part, England stays fifth but gains six ratings points and now sits just 11 behind Australia.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 23 August 2009)

Rank   Team                          Rating

1          South Africa               122

2          Sri Lanka                     119

3          India                            119

4          Australia                      116

5          England                       105

6          Pakistan                       84

7          New Zealand              82

8          West Indies                 76

9          Bangladesh                 13

(Developed by David Ken