The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : England closes in on Australia in Test ratings

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Thursday, Sep 15, 2005

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England closes in on Australia in Test ratings

India remains in third spot

DUBAI: : Regaining lost glory and pride after clinching the Ashes series, England has closed in on Australia by improving its ratings to 119 in the latest LG ICC Test Championship table announced here.

England's rating has improved by five points to 119 points, while Australia's rating has fallen from 133 to 127. India remains at third place with 111 points.

Michael Vaughan's side now has the highest rating attained by any side other than Australia since a new system of calculation was introduced in 2003.

Australia's advantage at the top of the table has fallen to below 20 points for the first time in 12 months but its rating is still two points higher than it was at the start of 2004 and it has a good chance of remaining the number one ranked Test team for at least a further six months.

So near yet so far!

Even if England wins all three of its Tests in Pakistan on its upcoming tour, Australia will still end the year in first place unless it loses its home series to eighth-ranked West Indies.

If England manages to win not only in Pakistan but also its three Test series in India, its points-tally would reach at least 121 and would touch 125 if it were to win all six of its winter Tests. Australia has upcoming home Test series against West Indies and South Africa.

If it either wins both these series or wins one series 3-0 and draws the other, then its rating will be at least 126 and hence remain out of England's reach.

If England and Australia both continue to perform well in Tests against all other countries, then the next series between the sides in 2006/07 will not only have the Ashes at stake but also the leadership of the LG ICC Test Championship.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's fortune in the table has also taken an upswing as he moved to joint seventh place in the Test rankings for bowlers after his Ashes show. He is also at his career-best batting ranking of 23rd with only Jacques Kallis having a better combined ranking than the Englishman in the last 20 years.

One place behind Flintoff in the batting is Kevin Pietersen, whose rapid rise up the Test rankings has been similar to his performance in the ODI rankings.

Pacer Simon Jones also climbed 20 places to 17th over the series. Marcus Trescothick ended as England's top ranked batsman in eighth place as Andrew Strauss returned to the top 10.

Aussies slip down

Several Australian players have slipped down the official rankings. Damien Martyn has dropped 10 places and Adam Gilchrist has dropped seven to 14th. On the bowling front Jason Gillespie dropped five places and Michael Kasprowicz eight.

Shane Warne's 40 wickets have lifted him two places to third, and he is now at his highest points level for seven years. Despite dropping 25 points over the series, Glenn McGrath retains the top place in the bowling. — UNI

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