Australia's domination of recent Ashes history will need to be repeated in next month's series in order for it to maintain leadership of the ICC Test Championship table.

The champion side currently holds a slender lead of just .01 of a point from South Africa, which has gained ground after defeating Bangladesh 2-0 in the first series played between the two teams.

Anything less than a win against England will see the Proteas take the lead in the Championship, for the first time since its launch in May 2001.

While a drawn or lost series would drop Australia into second place, the points gained by England would consolidate fifth position, moving it closer to fourth placed Sri Lanka.

ICC Test Championship Table, 28th October 2002

 
    Team         Played Won Lost Drawn Points Average
1.  Australia      13    9    2    2     20     1.54    
2.  South Africa   17   12    3    2     26     1.53
3.  New Zealand    17    8    5    4     20     1.18    
4.  Sri Lanka      16    8    6    2     18     1.13
5.  England        16    6    6    4     16     1.00
6.  West Indies    15    6    8    1     13     0.87
7.  India          14    4    6    4     12     0.86    
8.  Pakistan       16    4    7    5     13     0.81
9.  Zimbabwe       16    3   11    2      8     0.50
10. Bangladesh      6    0    6    0      0      -

Note: India holds a 2-0 lead against West Indies in the current series, and will move into sixth place on the table at the end of the third Test in Kolkata.

Wasim Raja is the ICC Match Referee for the Ashes series and Elite Panel umpires Rudi Koertzen and Steve Bucknor will stand in the first three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Russell Tiffin and Dave Orchard will take over for the Boxing Day match in Melbourne and the New Year game in Sydney.

Media contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 207 266 7935
Cell: + 44 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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