Wisden Cricketers' Almanac Test Ratings (25 Oct 1996)

25 October 1996

Lanka ahead of England in Test rankings

LONDON, Thursday - South Africa have gone top of test cricket`s unofficial world championship.

They lead the league table devised by the game`s authoritative Wisden Cricketers` Almanac and are narrowly ahead of joint second-placed Australia and West Indies.

The South Africans owe their ascendancy to Australia`s defeat last week by India.

"But the top five teams are so close that any of them could be champions by next April,`` said Wisden`s editor Matthew Engel.

England are seventh, ahead of only Zimbabwe and New Zealand, and behind one-day champions Sri Lanka.

The table awards two points for winning a series, one for drawing and none for losing, taking into account fixtures since October 1990. The difference between the number of series played and points gained determines a country`s placing.

Standings 1. South Africa 2. Australia 2. West Indies 4. India 4. Pakistan 6. Sri Lanka 7. England 8. Zimbabwe 9. New Zealand

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)