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Dubai, Jan 7 (IANS) With the series in South Africa drawn, India maintained their top spot in the latest International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test rankings. England, after the emphatic Ashes victory in Australia, are closing in on the Proteas for the second place.

India are comfortably ahead at 128 rating points with South Africa a distant second at 117 points. The men in blue, however, dropped a point from the previous rankings while South Africa gained one.

England are third with 115 points and gained three points courtesy their historic 3-1 triumph in Australia afer wrapping up the Sydney Test Friday morning.

Australia, suffering their first Ashes defeat in 24 years on home soil, have dropped to fifth in the table. The defeat cost Australia three ratings points which has put them behind Sri Lanka on 107.

Tests rankings as on January 7:

Rank Team Rating

1. India 128

2. South Africa 117

3. England 115

4. Sri Lanka 109

5. Australia 107

6. Pakistan 88

7. West Indies 85

8. New Zealand 80

9. Bangladesh 7