Big bonanza for Oz

According to information reaching here, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: 8220;The ICC rankings have proved to be an excellent way of measuring the relative achievements of teams in both Test and ODI cricket and for the second year in a row Australia have come out on top.8221;

8220;They should be congratulated for once again proving to be the most consistent team in both forms of the game,8221; he said. A record of nine wins, three draws and two defeats in Test cricket leaves Australia 18 points clear of its nearest rival England in the Test table. In ODI cricket the gap to second-placed South Africa is 13 points after Australia8217;s record of 20 wins, one tie and 10 defeats. England are second and Pakistan are fourth. New Zealand, Safs, Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh follow.