Lanka second in Test rankings

--BBC--

	It is the first time Sri Lanka achieved such a high ranking

The Sri Lankan cricket team has reached the second top spot in ICC Test rankings after Australia were defeated by England in the Ashes series on Monday.

It is the first time Sri Lanka achieved such a high rank in international Test rankings, Daily Mirror sports editor Channaka de Silva said.

“This is a unique moment in Sri Lanka’s short history of Test cricket,” president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), DS de Silva told BBC Sandeshaya.

He expressed hope that, if the current form continues, Sri Lankan team will soon achieve the top post in the most prestigious form of cricket.

For being defeated by fifth-placed England in the series, Australia loses eight ratings points and is knocked off top spot for the first time since the current method of ranking was introduced in May 2003.

While South Africa have reached the top spot, India are currently ranked third in the Test cricket world ahead of Australia and England.