Mike Atherton's team are ranked above only Zimbabwe and bottom-placed New Zealand in the nine-team table of nations published today by the magazine Wisden Cricket Monthly.

The West Indies remain joint second, five points behind leaders Australia, despite their recent 3-0 series defeat in Pakistan. They stand level on 17 points with South Africa in the system, which awards two points for winning a series and one for drawing a series played against each competing nation since 1990.

The International Cricket Council are undecided how to organise an official Tests table.

Unofficial world championship

1, Australia played 14, 23pts; =2, South Africa 13-17, West Indies 13-17; 4, India 14-15; 5, Pakistan 13-14; 6, Sri Lanka 15-13; 7, England 14-11; 8, Zimbabwe 10-5; 9, New Zealand 16-7.