Pressure on W.I to Win Both Tests

Wed, May 26, '04

 

Windies v Bangladesh

If the West Indies win both matches in the two-match home series against Bangladesh starting on Friday, they will improve its rating in the ICC Test Championship by just under a point.

This positive outcome will have little impact on their position in the table but the effect on their standing if they lose one of the matches will be particularly severe. A drawn series would see the Windies slide to 77, putting them 17 points adrift of their nearest rival Sri Lanka.

According to the ICC, Bangladesh needs at least one drawn match to keep a rating of 1 point while a drawn series would boost their rating to 4 points.

The West Indies' current rating is the lowest it has been since the new system of calculation was introduced in June 2003. Under the old rating system the West Indies were never below seventh in the official table, they are currently eighth.

ICC Test Championship table (May 25, 2004)

1. Australia -- 127
2. South Africa -- 112
3. England -- 103
4. India -- 102
5. New Zealand -- 101
6. Pakistan -- 99
7. Sri Lanka -- 94
8. West Indies -- 80
9. Zimbabwe -- 54
10. Bangladesh -- 1