India stay Number 1 in the ICC Test Rankings after winning the Jo’Burg Test

Following the Test win at Jo’Burg, India continue their reign as the top ranked Test team in the ICC Test Rankings. India will also receive $1 million and South Africa cannot topple them in the ICC Test Rankings until April 3rd.

India have finished the series with 121 points, having come into South Africa with 124 points.

South Africa take on Australia next, and need to win at least 1 Test match to keep hold of their number 2 ranking. If South Africa lose 3-0 or 4-0, Australia would leap frog them to the number 2 spot.

India               121

South Africa 114

Australia `    104

New Zealand 100

England          99

The Jo’ Burg Test

It was a Test match that swung every way possible.

After winning the toss, Virat Kohli chose to bat first, on a pitch that had a lot of green on it, but with the cracks threatening to spread wide open , Kohli thought it wouldn’t be wise to bat last on this wicket.

And while it was a huge risk, Kohli was ready to take it.

The Indian batsmen braved it out in the middle, countering the seaming conditions and putting up a substantial 187 on board. South Africa got a slender lead after their first innings, and with the pitch ready to spit venom, it looked as if India was staring down the barrel once again.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane batted out of their skins in the second innings, counter-attacking brilliantly to set South Africa a stiff target of 241.

Amla and Elgar strung a wonderful partnership, on a track that was visibly causing a lot of problems to the batsmen, and at one point it seemed that India would not be able to crawl back into the game. Amla though, flicked one straight to Pandya, turning the match on its head.

India romped to a wonderful 63 run win, with inspired spells from the Indian bowlers late into the day yesterday.