England and Pakistan launch test world championship

The first test between England and Pakistan starting on Thursday will launch a new cricketing era as the first match of the new world test championship.

The championship was introduced this month to impose a clear league table on the sport at the top level.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Tuesday that the idea was "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 championship, which follows a format pioneered by cricket publication Wisden since 1996, comes after more than 120 years and 1,500 test matches.

ICC president Malcolm Gray added: "Test match cricket is the purest form of the game and commands the following of millions of fans around the world.

"An ongoing test championship, that tracks the fortunes of each side and provides a talking point for enthusiasts is one way of rekindling interest and adding context to all future test series."

Sadly for Thursday's teams, however, they will not be able to claim the honour of table-toppers even if they win at Lord's.

The ICC has drawn up its starting table based on recent results rather than beginning from scratch.

Australia, who produced a world-record run of 16 consecutive test wins earlier this year, lead ahead of South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and test newcomers Bangladesh.

A trophy has been commissioned which will be presented to Australia at the start of the Ashes series in July.

It will be handed on with every change of leader.

Mail Cricket Editor