New Zealand has moved into fourth place on the ICC Test Championship table following its win in this week's Auckland Test, which enabled it to draw the three match series with England 1 - 1.
This is the now Kiwis' highest position on the table. In November it was sixth but a drawn series against champion team Australia marked the start of a revival that has gained it points and places over the past six months. This latest result replaces that of the last series between the Kiwis and England in New Zealand in 1996/97, when England won by a 2-0 margin.
The draw means New Zealand gain a point while England lose one from its total, allowing the Black Caps to move above the visitors into fourth spot, behind Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. England is now fifth on the table.
ICC Test Championship Table, 4th April 2002
Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points Average
Australia 13 9 2 2 20 1.54
South Africa 16 11 3 2 24 1.50
Sri Lanka 14 7 5 2 16 1.14
New Zealand 16 7 5 4 18 1.13
England 15 6 6 3 15 1.00
West Indies 14 6 7 1 13 0.93
Pakistan 16 4 7 5 13 0.81
India 14 4 7 3 11 0.79
Zimbabwe 16 3 11 2 8 0.50
Bangladesh 4 0 4 0 0 -
The ICC is disappointed to note media comments about the ICC Test
Championship attributed to the England team captain after the Auckland Test. The role of the Championship in helping to place Test match cricket and team performances into context has been welcomed by team captains, players and followers of the game around the world since its introduction last May.
The next series in the Championship are between West Indies and India in the Caribbean, beginning in Guyana on 11th April and Pakistan's rearranged series at home to New Zealand, starting in Lahore on 1st May.
Media contact:
Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913/1818
Mobile: 0787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com
© ICC
