England have moved ahead of South Africa in the International Cricket Council’s latest rankings for Test teams.
England have climbed two positions to second, while the Proteas have dropped one to third.
Australia have retained first position – and have 126 ratings points to England and South Africa’s 113 and 11, respectively.
India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are in fourth, fifth and sixth position, respectively. Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh currently occupy seventh, eighth and ninth position, respectively.
Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are in 10th, 11th and 12th position, respectively.
South Africa are in first position on the ICC’s 2023-25 World Test Championship points table. They will play second-placed Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in London, England, next month.
Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be available for the WTC final. He recently ended a one-month suspension for the use of a prohibited substance during MI Cape Town’s SA20 campaign earlier this year.
“Substances of abuse are substances that are identified as such because they are frequently abused in society outside the context of sport. “The following are designated substances of abuse – cocaine, heroin, MDMA/’ecstasy, THC,” read Monday’s statement from the South African Institute for Drug Free Sports.
“A provisional suspension was imposed and Rabada returned immediately to South Africa from India. Rabada accepted responsibility for the doping offence and honoured his provisional suspension.
“As per the South African Anti-Doping rules specifically pertaining to substances of abuse, the player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program. After Mr Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment program, his provisional suspension ended.
“The player has effectively served one-month period of ineligibility and may now resume participation in sport.”
Rabada is currently with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.
MORE LATEST SA cricket news
- LATEST SA domestic transfers
- TEAM-BY-TEAM player exits and arrivals
- UPDATED SA domestic coach appointments
- Western Province sign Tshepo Moreki, Josh van Heerden
- Boland sign Jhedli van Briesies, lose Michael Copeland
- Lions sign Beyers Swanepoel, Siya Plaatjie
- Titans sign Junaid Dawood, Duan Jansen
- North West sign Jade de Klerk, Onke Nyaku
- Tuskers sign Hardus Viljoen, Daryn Dupavillon
- Border sign Kgaudisa Molefe, Hardus Coetzer
- Easterns sign Jesse Albanie, Ernest Kemm