Cape Town - The Proteas and Australia feature in a four-Test series starting on Thursday in what could be an interesting tussle for the second place.
India clinched the $1 million prize money for the second year running and was presented with the ICC Test championship mace after being assured of the top place in the Test team rankings at the cut-off date of 3 April.
READ: Kohli to receive ICC Test Mace after Newlands T20
The world No 2 Proteas will be looking to seal the second prize of $500 000 (R5.8 million), which they are well placed to do.
However, Australia can overtake South Africa if they win 3-0 or better but Australia (104 points) also have the danger of slipping from their third position and seeing either New Zealand or England overtake them as the two sides are scheduled to play a two-Test series that also culminates on 3 April.
Australia could slip to 100 points with a 4-0 loss and to 101 with a 3-0 loss while New Zealand (100) can go up to 104 points with a 2-0 win while a similar comprehensive verdict for England (99) will see them go up to 102 points.
The side finishing third gets $200 000 and the fourth team gets $100 000.
Series scenarios:
South Africa win 4-0 - South Africa 120, Australia 100
South Africa win 3-0 - South Africa 118, Australia 101
South Africa win 2-0 or 3-1 - South Africa 117, Australia 102
South Africa win 1-0 - South Africa 116, Australia 103
Drawn series - South Africa 114, Australia 106
Australia win 4-0 - Australia 111, South Africa 108
Australia win 3-0 - Australia 110, South Africa 110 (behind on decimals)
Australia win 2-0 or 3-1 - South Africa 111, Australia 109
Australia win 1-0 - South Africa 112, Australia 109
Test fixtures:
March 1-5 - 1st Test, Kingsmead
March 9-13 - 2nd Test, St. George's Park
March 22-26 - 3rd Test, Newlands
March 30-April 3 - 4th Test, Wanderers
India may be ranked No 1 in the ICC Test rankings, but after their series defeat to the Proteas, do they really deserve the mantle as world's best?
