Drawn series confirms Zimbabwe and India positions in ICC Test Championship

Last week's drawn Test series between Zimbabwe and India has consolidated both teams' existing positions in the ICC Test Championship.

The 1-1 series result adds a single point to both countries' totals, meaning the home team remains in ninth position and India in seventh. The effect of this is that Zimbabwe now has 6 points from 13 series and an average of 0.46 and India 10 points from 13 series and an average of 0.77.

The fixture was the first series played between the teams in Zimbabwe, following one off Tests between them in 1992 and 1998.

About the ICC Test Championship

Two points are allocated for winning a series and one for a drawn rubber. The result -and points allocationof all future series will replace the previous equivalent.

At present, an average score per series (number of points won divided by number of series played) has been allocated to determine 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 will run 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.

The adoption of a co-ordinated 10 year calendar of future tours by all ICC members has created the long term structure on which to base the Championship.

Media contact:
Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
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Email: mark.harrison@icc.cricket.org