Dubai: India has slipped four ratings points following its 2-1 Test series drubbing to South Africa but still about managed to hang on to the fourth place in the latest ICC rankings for teams.

India is now five points behind third-placed Pakistan and five points clear of fifth-placed Sri Lanka who are followed by South Africa at sixth place in the table which saw Australia consolidate its position as the top team in the wake of their 5-0 Ashes whiteswash of England.

South Africa's success helped it gain four rating points but that did not improve its placement on the table.

A series win by even one match against Pakistan would see it equal Sri Lanka's points haul and if Graeme Smith's side manages to defeat Pakistan 2-0, 3-0 or 3-1 then it could move into fifth place as well, putting pressure on Pakistan and India.

Australia stretched its lead to 21 points and is now at 135 rating points, the highest since the rankings assumed its current format in 2003.

England is still clinging on to second place in the Test table but Pakistan will draw level if it beats South Africa 2-0 and overtake it if it can manage a clean sweep of victories in the three-Test series that begins at Centurion on Thursday.

In the Players' ranking, seventh placed Rahul Dravid was the only Indian among the top-20 batsmen while Smith, who contributed 94 and 55 in the third Test at Cape Town, jumped 10 places up to 18th position.