India Reclaimed Number 1 Test Rank from Pakistan

India Number 1 Test Team in World:

India become number 1 test team in the world once again after defeating New Zealand 2-0 in test series. This is the second time India moved to no. 1 test rank under Virat Kohli captaincy. India must keep winning rest of the test matches in order to stay on top. England will tour India once New Zealand series is over which will give Indian team enough opportunities to ensure they stay on top of test rank and increase margin points. Pakistan is currently sitting at second spot in ICC test ranking. Pakistan v West Indies series will decide if Pakistan can become number 1 test team again. India test team will have to perform well against New Zealand in rest of Test series to keep number 1 spot reserved for India.

Indian team journey to number 1 test team in the world was bit long and they got results under Kohli captaincy. India number 1 test team ranking didn't last that long when Pakistan took no. 1 test ranking from India with in a week. New Zealand is 5th best team in ICC test ranking while England is ranked 4th in Test ranking. Win against these 2 teams will give India more points. According to new rules in determining team ranking, if a team win against a good team with higher test ranking then they get more points as compare to a win against lower ranked team. West Indies is ranked 8 in ICC test ranking so Pakistan will have to make sure to win all the test matches to stay in competition. Anil Kumble will be very pleased with Indian team performance under Virat Kohli. New Indian captain has brought more aggression to current Indian team. And more aggression means more hunger to win test games. If Indian team keeps playing test cricket the way they are doing it now then no doubt India will be top test team by 1st of April, 2017.

India has proved to the cricket world that Number 1 test ranking belongs to India. And it is not easy to take number 1 test spot from them. It will be a tough competition for Pakistan if they want to become no. 1 test team again. At the moment India has got the advantage of Home test series. They crushed South Africa in last home series and now it is Kiwi's turn. More wins means more points and bigger the lead in ICC test ranking.

How Test Rank Is Calculated:

Test rank is calculated based on cricket team performance in last 4 years. Results of old matches are dropped out of statistics gradually as time goes on. ICC test ranking system gives 100% weight-age to test matches played in past 1 year. While 50% weight age is given to test matches played in following past 3 years. Matches won against high ranked test teams results in more points compare to low ranked test teams. Winning a game against good test cricket team will definitely boost ranking.

Prize Money For Top 4 Test Teams: 

ICC has improved incentives for Test performance by increasing the prize money for top 4 test teams in the world. ICC will spend over all $ 1.8 million on best 4 test teams in the world. The cut off period is April 1 each year. It means Top 1st ICC test team by April 1, 2017 will win USD $1 million. Second best team will get USD $500,000 followed by USD $200,000 for 3rd team and 4th team will get USD $100, 000. A lot of focus is made on ICC ODI and T20 cricket, increase in prize money will increase competition in Test cricket matches.

1st Test Team: No.1 ranked Test side will earn $1million
2nd Test Team: No.2 ranked Test side will earn $500K
3rd Test Team: No.3 ranked Test side will earn $200K
4th Test Team: No.4 ranked Test side will earn $100K

India beat New Zealand in the first 2 Test matches and jumped to top of ICC Test ranking. An other win in 3rd test match will extend the margin in ranking between Pakistan and India.

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