Cricket Archive

England falls from second to fifth in LG ICC Test Championship by ICC Media Release

DateLine: 22nd December 2007

But Sri Lanka leaps to third after series victory; Australia still clear leader

The rain that fell on Galle today and yesterday may have helped England save the Test match but it could not prevent it from losing the series to Sri Lanka or from slipping three places to fifth position in the LG ICC Test Championship table.

When time was called on the match at around 1545 (Sri Lanka time) on Saturday, England had battled to 251-6 with Matt Prior unbeaten on 19 and Ryan Sidebottom on 0 not out with Alistair Cook having made a battling 118. But despite failing to force victory in the match, Sri Lanka takes the series win 1-0 and moves up to third place in the Test Championship table.

In the process, South Africa replaces England in second position ahead of its Test series with the West Indies, which starts in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. India stays fourth but will be hoping to improve on that position as its four-Test series with Australia also gets going on Wednesday in Melbourne.

There are now just two ratings points separating the Proteas in second position and Michael Vaughan’s England team in fifth. Indeed, so close is it that the teams in second, third and fourth spots can only be separated when their ratings points are calculated beyond the decimal point.

However, all of them are playing second fiddle to Australia, which is way out in front at the top with 143 ratings points. In fact, even if Australia was to lose the upcoming series with India 4-0, it would still lead Anil Kumble’s team by 10 points.

Given how congested the Test Championship table is at present, it is likely we will see plenty of movement after the next round of series with Australia, South Africa, India, England, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh all in action over the coming months.

LG ICC Test Championship (as of 22 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 143

2 South Africa 109

3 Sri Lanka 109

4 India 109

5 England 107

6 Pakistan 94

7 New Zealand 91

8 West Indies 72

9 Bangladesh 4