Oz can be No.1 Test nation by 2014 end: Report

Australia can snatch the No.1 spot in the Test cricket world from South Africa by the end of the year, according to a report.

The ICC's Test rankings formula ensures bigger rewards for away wins and those coming against sides ranked higher on the table and a four-year form trajectory is studied with Tests in the past two years worth twice as much as Tests in the older two years of the cycle

According to News.com.au, Australia next faces Pakistan in a two-Test series in October, before hosting India for four Tests that will precede the 2015 World Cup and if they can manage to conquer these two challenges, then they will boast last-start Test series wins over every Test-playing nation except New Zealand, who they drew with 1-1 in 2011.

The report mentioned that by the end of the 2014-2015 season, Australia's dismaying 3-1 Ashes series loss of 2010-2011 will be wiped from the rankings.

However, the report added that world No.1 South Africa currently holds a 12-point buffer over Australia, which is unlikely to be significantly eaten into when the South Africans play Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in July.