Australia have ceded the No 1 Test ranking to India following their 163-run defeat in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday.
India, who held the No 1 spot early in the year before Australia reclaimed the top ranking after a win over New Zealand, will hold on to the position if they defeat West Indies in the fourth and final Test starting in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Thursday.
If India fail to defeat West Indies, Pakistan, who drew their series 2-2 against hosts England this week, will be anointed the highest-ranked side.
According to an International Cricket Council (ICC) release, Australia began their series in Sri Lanka on 118 points, but following their 106-run loss in Pallekele and 229-run defeat in Galle, followed by the Colombo defeat, they slipped to 108 points to be level with England.
However, Australia are ranked ahead of Alastair Cook’s side. Pakistan have moved up to second in the rankings, just one point behind their rivals.
If India win in Trinidad, they will finish on 112 points, one ahead of Pakistan. But they will slip to 110 points if the Test is drawn, and to 108 if they lose to the Caribbean side