World Test Championship

[Donny]

For those of you wondering how the hell South Africa could replace Australia as World Test Champion if they beat Pakistan in their upcoming 2 Test series, this may help. And, then again, it may not.

South Africa bid to topple Australia at top of rankings
Reuters - 24 December 2002

South Africa will topple Australia for the first time at the top of the World Test Championship if they beat Pakistan in their two-Test series starting in Durban on Thursday.

Australia, who also head the one-day rankings, are universally regarded as the world's best team, underlining the point by beating the South Africans 5-1 over six Tests last season.

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock said: "Australia are playing very well at the moment, but the fact that we are in the running for the championship is recognition that we have played well and been successful in different conditions around the world.

"It would be good to have our picture taken with that trophy."

The International Cricket Council rankings are based on results since May 1996. In the intervening period South Africa have won series in India and Pakistan, drawn another in Sri Lanka, and won a rubber in the West Indies.

By contrast Australia, despite a world record 16 wins in a row, have struggled on the subcontinent. They lost in India and Sri Lanka, and drew in the Caribbean as well as at home to New Zealand.

What are your thoughts?



Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Ian]

Yes but last summer they lost 5-1 to Australia in a split series(3-0 in Aust.,2-1 away in South Africa) - on those results seems to be that India and Pakistan are the defining difference

[Fradam]

I think its a joke. we smashed them at home and then away and yet if they win a piddley little 2 test series they're world champions.

The ICC should find a more accurate way of ranking teams before Sri Lanka become number one because they beat Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in consecutive 1 test series.

We havent lost a test at home for four years and we've had narrow losses on the sub-continent....what more do we have to do?

Fradam Wrote This

[gobbles21]

Who cares what the ICC say, we know were No. 1

Go Aussies !

"I'm such a good lover because I practice a lot on my own." - Woody Allen

[molloymagic]

what kind of a series is a 2 match test series anyway?

u either have 2 ways of working out:
a:1 team wins both or
b:both teams wins 1 and it would be called a draw,or if both teams win one does it go to a 3rd?????????.



Jarrod Molloy RULES!!!!
*2003:The beginning of molloy's injury free footy seasons*
*2002 Joint V.C*

[Donny]

They're not listening, m8.

South Africa 368 - Kallis 105, Boucher 55.
Pakistan 8/120

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

Pakistan were in with a chance with S.A. 4/140ish but Kallis and Boucher took back the initiative.

Ntini 3/45,Hayward 3/29 and Pollock 1/23 from 14, ripped through after the Pakis opened with 77. 8 wickets fell for 43.

Hey, come on Pakistan!! This isn't a World Cup final, y'know.

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

Well, South Africa are all but World Test Champions. They beat Pakistan in the first Test and by batting on in the second - they finally declared at 7/620 - have ensured at least a draw which would give them a series win.

Herschell Gibbs played quite an amazing innings. HIs 228 came from only 240 balls! His 200 was the second fastest in Tests taking just 211 balls. He hit 29 fours and 6 sixes (152 in boundaries) and his partnership with Graeme Smith (151) reached 368, an all wicket partnership record for SA, before Smith was dismissed. It was also the 4th. highest opening p'ship ever.

Saqlain Mushtaq took 3/237 from 50 overs.

Pakistan are 1/37 in chase with only a draw to play for.

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[JLC]

Beating Bangladesh shouldnt count!!!!!!!!!!

jlc

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

[Fradam]

I agree. If we played Bangladesh and Zimbabwe often then we'd be miles in front. It's bad enough now that the second best side isn't close to competative against us, imagine what two day test matches like Bangaldesh would be like.

If you beat us at home and then away then your entitled to be number one. South Africa have done niether.

Fradam Wrote This

[Donny]

Pakistan were making a fight of it for a while but crashed and are now following on - 368 behind! Taufiq made 135 but 5 batsmen failed to bother the scorers. Pollock and Ntini each took 4 wickets and Hayward took 2. Ntini already has a wicket in the second innings which sees Pakistan at 1/9.

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

Taufeeq completed a good double with 67 in his second dig but the Pakis are 5/184 and still 185 behind South Africa's first innings.

Inzamam (60) and Youhana (50) were showing some fight but Boje dismissed them both, late in the day. Boje was going for 6 r.p.o. but has probably taken a draw out of the equation.

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

Pakistan were dismissed for 226 and so lost by an innings.
Ntini took 4/33 from 15.1 overs and was named Player of the Series.

South Africa are now World Test Cricket Champions. Ho hum.

Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

ICC Test Championship Table. As at 6 January 2003.

Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points Average

1 South Africa 17 13 3 1 27 1.59
2 Australia 13 9 2 2 20 1.54
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 India 15 5 6 4 14 0.93
7 West Indies 17 7 9 1 15 0.88
8 Pakistan 16 4 8 4 12 0.75
9 Zimbabwe 16 3 11 2 8 0.50
- Bangladesh 7 - 7 - 0 -

Points System:

2 - series win
1 - series draw
0 - series loss

Information:

Sides ranked on average (points divided by series played).

Only series consisting of two Tests or more are counted.

The most recent series between the two sides, home and away, are counted.

The initial table was constructed only considering series starting during or after the initial five-year cut-off date of May 1996. Thereafter series replace one another under the ICC ten-year programme with no fixed cut-off period.

If, for any reason, a scheduled series is not played or completed, no points will be awarded. This decision has been taken to act as an incentive for members to fulfil all fixtures.

Bangladesh will not be allocated an average score until they have completed nine Test series of the maximum 18. This is expected to be completed in April 2003.

The table will revert to a straight points system once every side has played each other home and away. This is expected to be completed in 2005.

The leading side will hold the ICC Test Championship trophy, produced in silver and gold by Asprey & Garrard and valued at more than £30,000. The trophy will automatically pass from leader to leader.

If two sides are tied at the top of the table the holder will retain the ICC Test Championship trophy.



Donny.

GO THE MIGHTY WOODSMEN !! ALL THE WAY IN 2003 AND BEYOND !!!!

[Donny]

ICC Test Championship handed over to Shaun Pollock
UCBSA Press Release - 7 February 2003

ICC President Malcolm Gray presented South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock with the ICC Test Championship Mace today to mark South Africa's rise to the top of the ICC Test Championship table.

"On behalf of the ICC I would like to congratulate Shaun and his team for the excellent standard of Test match cricket they have played over recent years, which has now earned them top position on the ICC Test Championship table," said Gray. "Test cricket is hard work, and no side has worked harder than South Africa in terms of the series it has played against all other countries. One of the main aims of the ICC's 10 year Test calendar is to encourage teams to play each other home and away on a regular basis, and South Africa has been prominent in achieving that. Their record proves that they are an extremely good side, consistently winning series in the toughest of conditions. For example, they are one of the very few teams to have won a series in India, and have also done well in other countries where Test match wins are never easy to come by, such as Sri Lanka and the Caribbean," Gray added.

On receiving the trophy, Pollock said he was proud to have been part of a squad which had deservedly taken its place at the top of Test cricket. "We have had a really good record away from home, which shows our cohesion as a unit," Pollock said. "I would like to thank the players, team management and sponsors who have played such a vital role in getting us into this position over the years. It has been hard work, but I am sure I speak for all the guys when I say it has been worth it."

UCB President Percy Sonn and CEO Gerald Majola warmly congratulated the team on their effort and on the high standard of cricket they had maintained. "This Championship is about performing consistently well against all the Test-playing nations in all conditions. Shaun and the boys have done that," said Sonn. Majola added: "This is the realization of all the effort and planning that has gone into South African cricket. It is part of our Strategic Plan to develop winners and to be the top nation in the world. By performing so well, Shaun and his team have laid a platform for our other strategic intention of making cricket a sport for all South Africans."

The ICC Mace is awarded to the country at the head of the ICC Test Championship table, which was introduced at the start of the England v Pakistan series in May 2001.The Crown Jeweller Asprey & Garrard was commissioned to produce a distinctive trophy designed to stand out from other cricket trophies. They produced a silver and gold-plated trophy based on a cricket stump as its shank topped by an orb that represents the cricket world - both geographically and through the inclusion of the emblems of the 10 Test-playing nations. The stump and the orb combine to portray a mace, regarded as a symbol of authority and prestige. This is an appropriate combination given the rich history of Test Match cricket and its image as the most traditional and purest form of the game. The Mace is valued at $US 45 000 and automatically passes from one country to another as results confirm a change of Championship leader. Apart from South Africa, Australia is the only other side to have held the Mace.



Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!