SOUTH Africa closed the gap on Australia at the top of the Wisden World Championship with their 2-0 series victory in India. India dropped to seventh in the table, with only England and Zimbabwe below them. If Australia lose their forthcoming series in New Zealand — the last was drawn — their record will be identical to that of South Africa and the two countries will share top billing. Further ahead, if England beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in their test series this summer they would move up to equal seventh.
Rankings: 1. Australia; 2. South Africa; 3. West Indies; 4. Pakistan; 5. Sri Lanka; 6. New Zealand; 7. India; 8. England; 9. Zimbabwe.