England and India are about to embark on a marquee five-match Test series, which could significantly affect the ICC team rankings.
Both sides are currently in the top five of the Test team rankings, with England in third and India in fourth. These rankings are calculated separately to the World Test Championship table, for which this will be both side's first series in the 2025-27 edition.
The ICC Test Team Rankings are calculated on the basis of a team's results over the last three to four years. The matches they have played since May 2024 are included in the calculations, as well as the results from the two years before that – although those results are given a 50 percent weighting.
Current ICC men's Test team rankings
| Position | Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
| 1 | Australia | 26 | 3,200 | 123 |
| 2 | South Africa | 22 | 2,501 | 114 |
| 3 | England | 34 | 3,839 | 113 |
| 4 | India | 27 | 2,837 | 105 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 22 | 2,094 | 95 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 24 | 2,078 | 87 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 22 | 1,613 | 78 |
| 8 | West Indies | 22 | 1,613 | 73 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 24 | 1,487 | 62 |
| 10 | Ireland | 5 | 152 | 30 |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 5 | 104 | 21 |
| 12 | Zimbabwe | 11 | 131 | 12 |
Australia are far ahead of at the top of the rankings, with South Africa moving up ahead of England into second place after their victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final last week.
India have a fair gap to close to third-placed England, currently eight ratings points behind them. England's rating was boosted by a 2-1 win over New Zealand last time out, while India have lost their last two series, slipping to 3-1 against Australia and losing 3-0 at home to New Zealand before that.
What scoreline do India need to reach second place?
India’s series in England will begin at Headingley tomorrow (June 20), and will be Shubman Gill’s first in charge of India's Test side. India have not won a series in England since 2007. They drew their last series there, in 2021, after the final match was delayed to 2022. They will have to buck that trend of losses in order to move up, and close the gap to Australia, in the ICC Test rankings.
In short, even if India win four of the five matches in the series, they will still be one rating point behind South Africa. They will, however, overtake England in the rankings if they win the series 4-1. They would also overtake England if the scoreline reads 3-2 to India at the end of the series, although it would be close, with their rating in that scenario being 110 and England's being 109.
However, if India win the series 5-0, they will reach second place in the rankings, reaching a rating of 116 compared to South Africa's 114. They would, however, still be a fair way off Australia. Equally, India have never won five matches in a single Test series in England – the maximum games they have won across a Test series is two.
Predicted Test team rankings if India beat England 4-1
| Position | Team | Rating |
| 1 | Australia | 123 |
| 2 | South Africa | 114 |
| 3 | India | 113 |
| 4 | England | 107 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 95 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 87 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 78 |
| 8 | West Indies | 73 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 62 |
| 10 | Ireland | 30 |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 21 |
| 12 | Zimbabwe | 12 |
What scoreline do England need to reach second place?
England have an easier path to second place in the rankings. A series win in which they win three of the game would put them on equal rating with South Africa (114), and into joint second place. If that scoreline is reversed (India win 3-2), then they would slip down below India into fourth place, meaning the result of one match could be the difference between second and fourth place in the rankings.
If England win by a comfortable margin, they will also close in on Australia's position. Winning the series 4-1 would put them in second place outright, and six ratings points behind Australia. A 5-0 whitewash would close that gap further, putting them on 119 behind Australia on 123.
Predicted Test team rankings if England beat India 3-2
| Position | Team | Rating |
| 1 | Australia | 123 |
| 2 | England | 114 |
| 3 | South Africa | 114 |
| 4 | India | 103 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 95 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 87 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 78 |
| 8 | West Indies | 73 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 62 |
| 10 | Ireland | 30 |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 21 |
| 12 | Zimbabwe | 12 |
What about other series result?
There are two series going on in the next month that could affect the rankings at the top of the table. Australia will begin a three-match Test series against West Indies on June 25, while South Africa will play Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series on June 28. Soundly beating West Indies, as they are expected to, would extend Australia's lead at the top of the table, while South Africa beating Zimbabwe could also make things more difficult for India and England to move up in the standings.
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