South Africa narrow gap with series win
South Africa's 1-0 series win in Zimbabwe, after the second Test ended in a draw on Tuesday, has narrowed the gap on Australia at the top of the latest International Cricket Council's Test championship table.
The two points gained by South Africa takes its series average up to 1.5, just 0.12 behind the table topping Australians with 1.62.
The recently completed series is a new one for the Test championship, meaning that South Africa has now played 16 of a possible 18 home and away series.
It has won 11, drawn two and lost three of the series, with two of the losses against Australia.
South Africa will tour Australia in December before a home series against the current world champions in February.
Zimbabwe's continued struggle to win a series, despite the form of batsman Andy Flower and the promise of youngsters like Hamilton Masakadza, leaves it in ninth position on the table, with six points from 15 series and a reduced average of 0.40.
|
| Rank |
Team |
Series played |
Won |
Lost |
Drawn |
Points |
Avg |
| 1 |
Australia |
13 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
21 |
1.62 |
| 2 |
South Africa |
16 |
11 |
3 |
2 |
24 |
1.50 |
| 3 |
England |
14 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
16 |
1.14 |
| 4 |
Sri Lanka |
13 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
14 |
1.08 |
| 5 |
West Indies |
13 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
13 |
1.00 |
| 6 |
New Zealand |
15 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
14 |
0.93 |
| 7 |
Pakistan |
15 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
11 |
0.73 |
| 8 |
India |
13 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
9 |
0.69 |
| 9 |
Zimbabwe |
15 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
6 |
0.40 |
| 10 |
Bangladesh |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
Mail Cricket Editor
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