Third-placed England go into the series with 105 points on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings table, enjoying an eight-point lead over Australia, who will look to maximize their home advantage and move up from fifth position. Australia will overtake England if they win by a margin of 2-0 or better and could even go up to third position if they can complete a 5-0 series washout. If England are blanked out, they will slip down to 98 points.

On the other hand, England will go up to 110 points with a 5-0 win, in which case Australia will slip to 91 points and could be down to sixth position. India, who are currently engaged in a three-Test home series with Sri Lanka, lead the table with 125 points while South Africa are in second place with 111 points. Series scenarios:

Australia win 5-0 – Australia 106 (+9), England 98 (-7)

Australia win 4-0 – Australia 104 (+7), England 99 (-6)

Australia win 4-1 or 3-0 – Australia 103 (+6), England 100 (-5)

Australia win 3-1 or 2-0 – Australia 102 (+5), England 101 (-4)

Australia win 3-2, 2-1 or 1-0 – England 102 (-3), Australia 101 (+4)

Drawn series – England 104 (-1), Australia 97 (no change)

England win 5-0 – England 110 (+5), Australia 91 (-6)

England win 4-0 – England 109 (+4), Australia 92 (-5)

England win 4-1 or 3-0 – England 108 (+3), Australia 93 (-4)

England win 3-2, 2-1 or 1-0 – England 106 (+1), Australia 96 (-1)

England win 3-1 or 2-0 (England 107 (+2), Australia 94 (-3)