The drawn npower Test series between England and Pakistan has consolidated the home team's position in third place in the ICC Test Championship, while Pakistan remain in eighth place on the table.

The 1-1 series result replaces England's 0-2 loss to Pakistan in 1996. This gives England an additional point, while Pakistan loses a point from the two it gained from the 1996 win.

The effect of this is that England now has 16 points from 14 series and an average of 1.14 and Pakistan 11 points from 15 series and an average of 0.73.

The updated Championship table now shows:

ICC TEST CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE, JUNE 2001

Team           Played  Won  Lost Drawn Points Average
Australia        13    10    2    1     21    1.62
South Africa     15    10    3    2     22    1.47
England          14     7    5    2     16    1.14
Sri Lanka        13     5    5    3     13    1.00
New Zealand      15     6    7    2     14    0.93
West Indies      12     5    6    1     11    0.92
India            12     3    6    3      9    0.75
Pakistan         15     3    7    5     11    0.73
Zimbabwe         12     2    9    1      5    0.42
Bangladesh        1     0    1    0      0     -

The next update to the Championship table will take place at the conclusion of the Zimbabwe v India series in mid June.

Note: the updated table also includes correction of the 1999 India v South Africa series result to reflect a 0-2 away win to South Africa. This consolidates its position in second place with an improved average of 1.47, rather than 1.33.

About the ICC Test Championship
Two points are allocated for winning a series and one for a drawn rubber. The result -and points allocation- of all future series will replace the previous equivalent.

At present, an average score per series (number of points won divided by number of series played) has been allocated to determine the top side, because not all teams have played each other home and away. This transitional arrangement will change to a straight points system when all teams have played each other home and away, in 2005.

The Championship has been introduced to add interest, context and excitement to the game at the highest level. It will run on a rolling league basis, with the system used for calculating positions based on the results of the most recent series (a minimum of two Test series applies), home and away, between each of the teams.

The adoption of a co-ordinated 10 year calendar of future tours by all ICC members has created the long term structure on which to base the Championship.

Media contact:
Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913/1818
Email: mark.harrison@icc.cricket.org

© ICC