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England barely better than Zimbabwe after Ashes failure
AFP
6 January 1999
LONDON, Jan 6 (AFP) - England's Ashes failure has left them unchanged
in seventh position out of nine nations, marginally above Test new
boys Zimbabwe, in the world order of cricket.
That is the assessment of Wisden in their world championship table,
which gives two points for a Test win and one for a draw, following
England's 3-1 defeat by Australia this winter.
Australia (1.79 points on average from their last 14 Test series) have
a huge lead at the top of the list over South Africa (1.27), while
England are cast adrift on 0.71 only just above Zimbabwe (0.70).
England also have bottom-of-the-pile New Zealand below them and have
good prospects of improving their rating next summer when they face
the Kiwis in a home Test series after the World Cup.
But above Alec Stewart's team are the likes of the improving Sri Lanka
and West Indies, who remain third in the world despite their 4-0
hammering at the hands of South Africa in a series that is still
ongoing.
Wisden's table is expected to be superseded next week by the
International Cricket Council, who are thought to be about to announce
an official championship of Test cricket.
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