Australia maintain ICC Test Championship lead with Ashes victory

Australia's final day demolition of England at The Oval to win by an innings and 25 runs and take the series 4-1 has confirmed their lead at the head of the ICC Test Championship table.

By wrapping up their seventh consecutive Ashes series more than three weeks ago at Nottingham, the Australians retained the two points earned from their 3-2 victory in the last series between the two sides in England. England remain clear in third position despite losing, not being penalised as they had also lost in that corresponding series four years ago.

Although they would have been knocked off the leader's perch by South Africa with a loss in this series, Australia can not now be headed on the table until at least late November. Even this would only eventuate if South Africa managed to win in Zimbabwe in September; hold on to established points against India by winning at home in November; and if Australia was then beaten by New Zealand at home. If this trio of events fails to occur, South Africa would have to await their twin series against the Australians between December 2001 and March 2002 in order to bridge the gap or overtake their rivals.

The first movement in the standings since the end of July is likely to come later this week as the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and India starts at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo tomorrow. Unlike the drawn two-Test series dominated by the bat in 1997/98, both matches thus far have ended in results inside four days.

Neither side can improve its position on the table - only their points per series averages can rise - they will nevertheless force their opponents down the ladder if there is a positive outcome from the final Test. An Indian victory would see Sri Lanka slip two places, dropping below West Indies (average of 1.00) and New Zealand (0.93) to assume sixth place on 0.92. A win for the home team on the other hand would push India behind Pakistan (0.73) into eighth on 0.69.

The results of the Asian Test Championship, which also starts tomorrow in Multan and which includes the opening matches of the 2001/02 Test season, will not count toward the ICC Test Championship. The matches between Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka take the form of a series of one-off Tests, and they are therefore disqualified from consideration under the rules which govern the operation of the ICCTC.