Sri Lanka has put more distance between it and England following its 2-0 series victory over Pakistan, which concluded with a draw in the third Test in Colombo on Friday.
Kumar Sangakkara's side, which remains in fourth position, gained three ratings points and moved to 111, stretching its lead over fifth-placed England to 10 points and bringing it within just six of India, which currently occupies third position on the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.
For its part, Pakistan had been just one ratings point behind England prior to the series but has now slipped to six points adrift in sixth position following this defeat. Where on the table England will finish after the ongoing Ashes series remains to be seen as the ladder is only updated after the conclusion of each series.
Meanwhile, Australia still leads the table with South Africa in second place and India third.
But, while Friday's championship table may reflect a nine-point lead for Australia over South Africa, that lead will narrow to just two ratings points when the annual update is carried out on August 1 and all series completed before August 2006 fall off the table.
These results include Australia's back to back 2-0 and 3-0 wins over South Africa in 2005-06, hence reducing the gap significantly.
As such, when the annual update is carried out on August 1 Australia will drop four points to 124 ratings points while South Africa will gain three ratings points to rise to 122 points.
England, which currently sits on 101, will slip to 99 following the annual update.
Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 24 July 2009, after the Sri Lanka v Pakistan series)
1. Australia - 128 points
2. South Africa - 119
3. India -117
4. Sri Lanka - 111
5. England - 101
6. Pakistan - 95
7. West Indies - 82
8. New Zealand - 78
9. Bangladesh - 10
