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India sixth in ICC Test table

New Delhi April 23. Despite a fine run in the shorter version of the game, which has helped India climb the rankings ladder, the lack of Test matches will force the team to slug it out at the bottom of the ICC Test Championship table for the rest of the year.

Joint winners of the recently-concluded TVS Cup South Africa will have a golden opportunity to extend its lead at the top of the table with a two-Test series against Bangladesh, which it is epected to win quite comfortably.

However, World champion Australia will challenge the Proteas having put on a wonderful effort in the first two Tests against the West Indies in an away series.

This will be the first time that South Africa plays Test cricket in Bangladesh and a series win will boost its average to 1.61 (29 points from 18 series).

However, with Australia ahead in its four-match series against West Indies, even victory may not be enough for South Africa to hold on to its lead in the ICC Test Championship for long.

A series win for Australia will boost its points tally to 21 from 13 series, taking its average up to 1.62 which is 0.03 higher than South Africa's current average and crucially 0.01 more than Proteas can amass even with a series win in Dhaka.

The 2003 Cricket World Cup host and Bangladesh played their first ever head-to-head series in South Africa in October 2002 with the home side winning 2-0.

Bangladesh is still looking for a maiden Test victory.

Clive Lloyd from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate in both the matches taking place in Dhaka while New Zealander Billy Bowden will undertake his first Test assignment since being appointed to the Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires. Bowden will stand with his experienced colleague Steve Bucknor from the West Indies.

The ICC Board has also agreed to a new format for the ICC Test Championship, which recognises the rewards and result of each Test match played. The new system will be introduced from the beginning of June.

The standings (Read as team, played, won, lost, drawn, points and average):

1. South Africa 17-13-3-1-27-1.59; 2. Australia 13-9-2-2-20-1.54; 3. New Zealand 17-8-5-4-20-1.18; 4. Sri Lanka 16-8-6-2-18-1.13; 5. England 16-6-6-4-16-1.00; 6. India 15-5-6-4-14-0.93; 7. West Indies 17-7-9-1-15-0.88; 8. Pakistan 16-4-8-4-12-0.75; 9. Zimbabwe 16-3-11-2-8-0.50; 10. Bangladesh 7-0-7-0-0-nil.

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