International Cricket Council






ICC Home




Home
News
Photos
Test Cricket
One-Day Cricket
ICC Cricket World Cup
ICC Events
LG ICC Rankings
About ICC
Rules and Regulations
Umpires and Referees
Global Development
Women's Cricket
Media Centre
Commercial Partners
ICC Cricket World
Recruitment
Search the ICC website










Visit ICC members and regions










Series win over Pakistan would take South Africa to top of ICC Test Championship Table
ICC Media Release - 23 December 2002

South Africa will displace Australia at the top of the ICC Test Championship table, if it wins its forthcoming two-Test series against Pakistan.

A win for Shaun Pollock's team would improve its series points average to 1.59, moving it ahead of Australia, which has topped the ICC table since its introduction in May 2001.

The last home series between South Africa and Pakistan ended in a 1-1 draw in 1997/98, so a winning result this time around would add a point to the home team's total, giving it the edge over Steve Waugh's current champions with 27 points from 17 series.

ICC Test Championship Table, 23 December 2002

 
    Team         Played Won Lost Drawn Points Average
Australia          13    9    2    2     20     1.54 
South Africa       17   12    3    2     26     1.53 
New Zealand        17    8    5    4     20     1.18 
Sri Lanka          16    8    6    2     18     1.13 
England            16    6    6    4     16     1.00 
India              15    5    6    4     14     0.93 
West Indies        17    7    9    1     15     0.88 
Pakistan           16    4    7    5     13     0.81 
Zimbabwe           16    3   11    2      8     0.50 
Bangladesh          7    -    7    -      0      - 

With Steve Waugh's men yet to play Bangladesh or Zimbabwe in a Test series the South Africa side has had more opportunities to earn ICC Test Championship points by playing 17 of the possible 18 series while Australia has only played 13 different series in the same timeframe. South Africa holds six points from three winning series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, whereas Australia has no current points against either of these teams.

The ACB pulled out of a tour to Zimbabwe earlier this year and play their first ever series against Bangladesh in July and August 2003. Of the 10 Test-playing nations only Bangladesh have played fewer opponents than Australia.

While Australia have been a dominant force at home, they have not been as strong on their travels. Australia has returned poorer results in away series against India, Sri Lanka and West Indies than South Africa.

In 1999/2000 South Africa completed a task that has proved beyond Australia in recent years by winning a series in India. It also drew in Sri Lanka, another country where Australia has struggled, a 1-0 defeat resulting from its last visit in 1999/2000.

Australia's first opportunity to pick up points lost away from home will be in West Indies from April 2003. The last time the two sides met in the Caribbean in 1999 the series was drawn 2-2. If Australia can emerge victorious this time it will reclaim top spot in the table with an average of 1.62.

South Africa will only go top of the ICC Test Championship Table by winning against Waqar Younis' team. A draw would maintain the current positions for both teams, while a win for Pakistan could take it up the table from eighth, to share seventh place with West Indies.

How the ICC Test Championship works:

- Sides receive 2 points for a series win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a defeat
- Sides are ranked on average (points divided by series played).
- Only series consisting of two Tests or more are counted.
- The initial table was constructed only considering series starting during or after the initial five-year cut-off date of May 1996. Thereafter series replace one another under the ICC ten-year programme with no fixed cut-off period.
- If, for any reason, a scheduled series is not played or completed, no points will be awarded.
- Bangladesh will not be allocated an average score until they have completed nine Test series of the maximum 18.
- The table will revert to a straight points system once every side has played each other home and away.

For a full explanation of the ICC Test Championship visit the ICC website, www.icc.cricket.org

Media contacts:

Mark Harrison Jon Long
ICC Communications Manager Project Officer-Corporate Affairs
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7266 7935 Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7266 7912
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7879 441891 Mobile: + 44 (0) 7946 545 090
E Mail: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com E Mail: jon.long@icc-cricket.com

© ICC


Teams Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe.
Players/Umpires Gundappa Viswanath, Venkat, Steve Bucknor.
Tours Pakistan in South Africa
Grounds Kingsmead, Durban Newlands, Cape Town




Latest ICC News


>
Yousuf back in top 10 in LG ICC Player Rankings





>
ICC launches Development Program Annual Awards 2007





>
Results of ICC Board meeting





>
Kenya sweats on Obanda's fitness as Bermuda hopes for improved performance in ICC Intercontinental Cup match starting Thursday





>
Series win sees South Africa maintain pressure on Australia at top of LG ICC ODI Championship Table





>
Namibia captain Bjorn Kotze praises fast bowlers efforts in victory against Canada




_RELATEDLINKS_
ICC News Archive


> 2007





> 2006





> 2005





> 2004





> 2003





> 2002





> 2001





> 2000





> 1999





> 1998




Media Contact


ICC Corporate Affairs
International Cricket Council
PO Box 500 070
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Tel. +971 4 368 8088
Fax. +971 4 368 8080

enquiry@icc-cricket.com




print this page














International Cricket Council

Contact ICC | Jobs @ ICC

© 2007 ICC Development (International) Ltd.