India end 2016 as No.1 Test team post England's drubbing

Dubai [UAE], Dec.20 (ANI): India have ended 2016 as the number-one ranked side in the ICC Test Team Rankings after registering a crushing victory by an innings and 75 runs in the final Test to finish the five-match series 4-0 against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The series win have helped India gain five points and they have moved to 120 points in the last Test team rankings, 15 points ahead of second-placed Australia. In contrast, England, which had started the series tied with Australia on 105 points but was ahead on decimal points, have slipped from second to fifth position. England are now on 101 points, one point behind Pakistan and South Africa, which are both on 102 points each with Pakistan ranked third on decimals points. This means that four teams are now within four points of each other with the annual cut-off date of April 1 for the ICC cash awards not far away. The Virat Kohli-led side, which was awarded the ICC Test Championship Mace on October 11 following a 3-0 home series sweep over New Zealand, can't be overtaken this year since the team rankings are updated only at the end of each Test series. The next Test series to be completed is the ongoing one between Australia and Pakistan with the third and final Test slated in Sydney from January 3 and January 7.(ANI)