Eng need 2-0 or 3-1 win to be No. 1 in Tests

London: England must beat India by at least two clear matches in the forthcoming series to be ranked as the world's top Test team.

Anything less will be insufficient to remove their opponents from the No. 1 spot they have occupied since last year.

At present, England are in third place on 117 points, behind India on 125 and South Africa on 118. A win for England by 1-0 or 2-1 in the four-match series, which is scheduled to start at the Lord's next week, will see them overtake South Africa but only draw level with India.

But a victory by 2-0 or 3-1, with points at stake because England lost to India at home four years ago, would see Andrew Strauss's side go three points clear.

If England were to lose to India, by any margin, they would still retain third place in the rankings, such is the gap between the top three and the rest.

Although the rankings are arcane, depending on a multitude of factors including quality of the opposition and previous results between the sides, they are generally felt to be accurate.

It is England's declared mission to top the charts for the first time since the ICC's official ratings system began and if they miss out now, they may have to wait a while for another opportunity, relying on India to lose to others, reports Independant.

A sense of anticipation is settling on England with such a prize at stake.

Sachin, Sehwag bag top ICC awards

While Sachin Tendulkar has been named the ICC Player of the Year, Virender Sehwag won the ICC Test Player of the Year in the ICC Awards ceremony being held in Bangalore. Sehwag also features in the Test team of the Year captained by MS Dhoni. Kumar Sangakkara, Graeme Swann, Sachin Tendulkar, Hashim Amla, Simon Katich, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Doug Bollinger were the other members of the winning team.

Ricky Ponting was named the captain of the ODI team of the Year which has Tendulkar, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, AB de Villiers, Paul Collingwood, Dhoni, Daniel Vettori, Suart Broad, Bollinger and Ryan Harris as the other members.

AB de Villiers, who is currently the top-ranked ODI batsman, was also adjudged as the ICC ODI Player of the Year beating Tendulkar, Harris and Watson.

The award for the best Twenty20 performance of the year went to Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 116 against Australia in Christchurch. McCullum was chosen ahead of other nominees, Michael Hussey, Mahela Jayawardene and Ryan McLaren.

Rookie England fast bowler Steven Finn bagged the Emerging Player of the Year award after Mohammed Aamer’s name was removed from the nominees list following the spot-fixing scandal. The 21-year-old Finn, since making his debut in March, against Bangladesh, has taken 32 wickets in eight Tests.

Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate has won the ICC Associate Player of the Year award. ten Doeschate's performances during the English domestic season has made him a sought after player in international Twenty20 competitions. He has been signed by Tasmania for the Big Bash and by Canterbury for New Zealand's domestic tournament.

New Zealand once again walked away with the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award and Pakistan’s Aleem Dar was adjudged the best Umpire of the Year for second consecutive time.

Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, the former England women's captain, is the first woman cricketer inducted into the ICC's Hall of Fame.