A win or draw for Sri Lanka in the two-Test series against South Africa, beginning at The Wanderers tomorrow, would move Sanath Jayasuriya's team into third place on the ICC Test Championship table.

Standing in the way of the Lankan's highest ever placing however is second placed South Africa, fresh from a convincing series win against Bangladesh, and holding the advantage of a 2-0 win in the last meeting between the two teams in the Republic in 2000/01.

ICC Test Championship Table, 7 November 2002

Team         Played Won Lost Drawn Points Average
1.  Australia      13    9    2    2     20     1.54
2.  South Africa   17   12    3    2     26     1.53
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.  West Indies    15    6    8    1     13     0.87
7.  India          14    4    6    4     12     0.86
8.  Pakistan       16    4    7    5     13     0.81
9.  Zimbabwe       16    3   11    2      8     0.50
10. Bangladesh      6    0    6    0      0      -

A winning series for Shaun Pollock's team would maintain its challenge to Australia at the head of the table, but a draw or win for Sri Lanka would move the visitors ahead of third placed New Zealand. Neither result would displace South Africa from second place, but would reduce its series points average and extend the gap at the top, from its current differential of just .01.

Gundappa Viswanath is the ICC Match Referee for the series and Emirates Elite Panel umpires Daryl Harper and Russell Tiffin will stand at both The Wanderers (8 to 12 November) and Centurion Park (15 to 19 November).

ICC Media Contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 207 266 7935
Cell: + 44 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com