South Africa close gap at top of ICC Test Championship

South Africa's 1-0 win in the two-Test series in Zimbabwe has edged them closer to Australia at the head of the ICC Test Championship points table.

The high-scoring drawn second Test at Bulawayo ensured they took maximum points away from the series and improved their points per series average to 1.50. This brings them within striking distance of holders Australia, who are just 0.12 ahead on an average of 1.62.

South Africa have now played 16 qualifying Test series, winning 11, drawing three and losing just two - at home (1996/97) and away (1997/98) to Australia.

While the two sides will square off for ICCTC supremacy in Australia in December, they each have preceding assignments to defend existing points against other opponents at home. Only a South African victory over India and an improbable New Zealand win in Australia would see the silver and gold mace trophy change hands before then.

India has never won a Test in South Africa while New Zealand has gone winless in Australia since 1985/86.

A series victory in Australia would be enough to absolutely ensure South Africa takes the ICCTC title, regardless of other results in the interim. A drawn series, which would see South Africa take one of Australia's existing points to boost its own total, would also be good enough for them to become the new leaders provided that they do not lose ground in the meantime.

The next series scheduled in the ICC ten-year programme was to be Pakistan's home series against New Zealand. However, the New Zealand side returned home from Singapore, en route to the subcontinent, due to uncertainty caused by last Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the United States of America.

The series is yet to be officially cancelled but, with the subsequent New Zealand tour of Australia approaching and Pakistan committed to play one-day matches in Sharjah at the same time, the likelihood is that it will be deferred until some time in the middle of next year.