Pakistan have improved one spot to land fifth position in latest ICC Test and ODI ranking.
However, Australia have strengthened their claim as being the best team in the world after extending their lead at the top of ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings.
The ICC released their annual update of the rankings on Wednesday and Australia now lead second-placed India by nine points with a rating of 128 points.
The new rankings reflect all Test series completed since May 2019, with those completed prior to May 2021 weighted at 50% and subsequent series weighted at 100%.
India (119 points) hold on to second place on the rankings, ahead of a tight battle for third between New Zealand (111) and South Africa (110).
South Africa closed the gap from 13 to the solitary point on the latest rankings, following a jump in their rating from 102 to 110 points.
Rounding out the top five is Pakistan with 93 points, with Babar Azam’s side catapulting past England (88) to snatch fifth place.
England fell nine points from 97 to 88 in the latest rankings, with new skipper Ben Stokes taking over a Test side that has won just one Test match in the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, New Zealand can lay claim to the No.1 ODI ranking, though they have an England side hot on their heels, closing the gap to just one rating point.
Since the last annual change, England comfortably brushed aside Sri Lanka and Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup Super League action, claiming 55 points through the 2-0 and 3-0 series wins at home.