Pakistan can move second in LG ICC Test Championship for first time

Pakistan can move into second place in the LG ICC Test Championship for the first time ever if it beats South Africa by two clear matches in the upcoming series that gets underway at Centurion on Thursday.

If Inzamam-ul-Haq's side defeats the Proteas 2-0 or 3-0 in the three-match series, it will move above England and secure its highest-ever placing since the LG ICC Test Championship was launched in May 2001.

It has been a steady improvement for the Pakistan Test side. In mid-2003 the team languished in eighth place, ahead of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but it has gradually made its way up the ladder since then, and if it passes England it will have just Australia ahead of it.

That is going to be easier said that done, however. South Africa has shown some good form so far this summer and is never an easy side to beat, particularly at home. Although currently ranked sixth, the Proteas side will overtake Sri Lanka into fifth if it wins the series by two Tests or more.

By beating India 2-1 in its latest series, South Africa is already on an upward curve and it will be keen to keep that run of form going when play gets underway on Thursday.

There is plenty to play for from an individual point of view as well. South Africa batsmen Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis all have a good opportunity to move up within the top 20 of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

Having just climbed ten places to 18th position following a fine performance in the third Test against India at Cape Town, Smith is now only seven ratings points behind England's Ian Bell and ten behind New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.

Prince can catch England opener Andrew Strauss in 13th spot while Kallis can put pressure on Younis Khan inside the top ten of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

For his part, Pakistan vice-captain Younis will be doing his best to make sure that does not happen and has eighth-placed West Indies captain Brian Lara in his sights.

With Mohammed Yousuf expected to be out of the first two Tests for personal reasons, the top spot of Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen is secure for now.

Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini can close the gap on Muttiah Muralidaran at the top of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers. The 29-year-old trails Muralidaran by 80 ratings points so still has plenty of work to do if he is to catch him.

Ntini's team-mate Shaun Pollock can really make an impact in the top ten, however. Pollock, who was named player of the series from the Tests against India, is in fine form with both ball and bat. He can move up the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers and as he is only21 ratings points behind fifth-placed Anil Kumble of India the scope for progress is obvious.

Leading Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has just joined his team-mates in South Africa, will be keen to get back into the top ten. He currently lies in 11th position, ten ratings points behind England's Andrew Flintoff and a further two points behind Pollock.

Pollock lies third in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders, behind Kallis in top spot and Flintoff in second.

The schedule for the South Africa v Pakistan series is as follows:

11 - 15 January - first Test, Centurion
19 - 23 January - second Test, Port Elizabeth
26 - 30 January - third Test, Cape Town

For more information about how the LG ICC Player Rankings are devised and maintained go to: