England barely better than Zimbabwe after Ashes failure (6 January 1999)

6 January 1999

England barely better than Zimbabwe after Ashes failure

AFP

LONDON, Jan 6 (AFP) - England's Ashes failure has left them unchanged in seventh position out of nine nations, marginally above Test new boys Zimbabwe, in the world order of cricket.

That is the assessment of Wisden in their world championship table, which gives two points for a Test win and one for a draw, following England's 3-1 defeat by Australia this winter.

Australia (1.79 points on average from their last 14 Test series) have a huge lead at the top of the list over South Africa (1.27), while England are cast adrift on 0.71 only just above Zimbabwe (0.70).

England also have bottom-of-the-pile New Zealand below them and have good prospects of improving their rating next summer when they face the Kiwis in a home Test series after the World Cup.

But above Alec Stewart's team are the likes of the improving Sri Lanka and West Indies, who remain third in the world despite their 4-0 hammering at the hands of South Africa in a series that is still ongoing.

Wisden's table is expected to be superseded next week by the International Cricket Council, who are thought to be about to announce an official championship of Test cricket.

Source :: AFP