India go into tomorrow's Test series against the West Indies in Guyana knowing that an historic win would move it two places up to sixth place on the ICC Test Championship table.

India has failed to win an away Test series since it beat Sri Lanka in 1993/94 and the enormity of its task in the Caribbean is emphasised by the home team's impressive record. West Indies has lost only one home series - to South Africa last year - since it lost to the Steven Waugh inspired Australians of 1994/95.

The Windies won the last series between the sides in the Caribbean by a single Test to nil in 1996/97. It therefore needs to repeat that performance to preserve both its impressive record and the sixth place it currently holds on the table.

If India is successful in ending its long losing streak away from home it will change places with Carl Hooper's side, moving above Pakistan in the process. A shared series would mean no change in position for the Windies, but the point gained by India would be enough to take Saurav Ganguly's team into seventh place.

ICC Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle will take charge of the five Test matches. He will be supported on the field by newly appointed Elite Panel umpires Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva (Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados Tests) and David Shepherd and Russell Tiffin for the final two matches in Antigua and Jamaica.

ICC Test Championship Table, 10th 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       -   

About the ICC Test Championship Two points are allocated for winning a series and one for a drawn rubber. The result -and points allocation- of new series replace the previous equivalent.

At present, an average score per series (number of points won divided by number of series played) is used to identify the top side, because not all teams have played each other home and away. This transitional arrangement will change to a straight points system when all teams have played each other home and away, in 2005.

The Championship has been introduced to add interest, context and excitement to the game at the highest level. It runs on a rolling league basis, with the system used for calculating positions based on the results of the most recent series (a minimum of two Test series applies), home and away, between each of the teams.

Media contact:
Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913
Mobile: + 44 (0) 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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