Series win will put India second in Test table
India can move to second place in the ICC Test Championship table if it wins the forthcoming four-Test series against Australia, starting in Bangalore on Wednesday.
India has never been higher than fourth in the official Test table but this series provides an opportunity for it to close to within four points of leaders Australia.
If India can win all four matches its rating would climb from 104 to 115 while Australia's would fall from 129 to 119. A narrower winning margin would obviously leave a bigger gap between the sides but even if India only wins the series by a one Test margin (1-0 or 2-1) it will boost its rating to 111 - still good enough for second place.
Such has been Australia's overall dominance of Test cricket over recent years that even if the series is drawn, India will go up from fourth to third while Australia's rating will fall from 129 to 126.
Australia needs a two-Test winning margin to improve its rating. A 3-0 or 4-0 away victory would see Australia reach its highest ever rating in the official Test table.
The ICC Test Championship table correct on 5 October:
Position Team Rating
1 Australia 129
2 England 109
3 Pakistan 107
4 India 104
5 Sri Lanka 103
6 South Africa 102
7 New Zealand 94
8 West Indies 73
9 Zimbabwe 51
10 Bangladesh 1
Developed by David Kendix
Full scenarios for the India v Australia Test series:
| Result | India | Australia |
| Current rating: | 104 | 129 |
| Possible series outcomes: | ||
| India wins 4-0 | 115 | 119 |
| India wins 3-0 | 114 | 120 |
| India wins 2-0,3-1 | 112 | 122 |
| India wins 1-0,2-1 | 111 | 123 |
| Drawn 0-0,1-1,2-2 | 108 | 126 |
| Australia wins 1-0,2-1 | 105 | 128 |
| Australia wins 2-0,3-1 | 103 | 130 |
| Australia wins 3-0 | 102 | 131 |
| Australia wins 4-0 | 100 | 132 |
Steve Bucknor and Billy Bowden from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand in the first Test match, Ranjan Madugalle from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate on the series.
For full details of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees officiating on this series visit the umpires and referees section of the ICC website at http://www.icc-cricket.com/match_zone/umpire_appointments.php
For details of the ICC Test Championship visit the Test cricket page of the ICC website at www.icc-cricket.com/match_zone/test_cricket/