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Second place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship is up for grabs over the next few weeks as no fewer than four teams could snatch that position, depending on how the India vs Pakistan and Sri Lanka vs England series pan out.

According to an ICC media release, England is the current occupier of that rank but its place is under pressure with both India and Sri Lanka capable of overtaking it if they do well in their respective three-Test series.

And depending on results, even South Africa could sneak into the second spot ahead of its own Test series against the West Indies, which gets underway on 26 December in Port Elizabeth.

As the second Test between India and Pakistan begins on Friday (today) in Kolkata, the home side is already 1-0 up in the series and could finish on 112 points, one more than England’s current tally if it wins the series 3-0.

Michael Vaughan’s team has the chance to maintain its place behind leaders Australia provided it can prevail in its series, which begins on Saturday in Kandy. Mahela Jayawardene and his men will know that a good showing for them could propel them from their current position of fifth right into second.

Such is the congested nature of the table that just six points separate England in second and Sri Lanka in fifth. But no team can come close to knocking Australia off its perch as it is currently 32 points clear at the top.

Rank Team Points

1 Australia 143

2 England 111

3 South Africa 109

4 India 107

5 Sri Lanka 105

6 Pakistan 96

7 New Zealand 91

8 West Indies 72

9 Bangladesh 65

Source:Cricket News

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