ST JOHN’S, May 13: Australia’s 3-1 series victory against the West Indies restored Steve Waugh’s team to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship table.

Australia’s series win in the Caribbean took its points tally to 21 from 13 series, taking its average up to 1.62 points which is just 0.01 points higher than the average of previous leader South Africa.

Arrangements are being made for the ICC Test Championship mace to be transferred from South Africa to Australia.

ICC president Malcolm Gray, himself an Australian, is due to present the trophy to the Australian Cricket Board later this month.

Australia will be the last side to head the ICC Test Championship under the present system as a new method of calculation will be introduced from June 1.

The new system, agreed by the ICC board at its Johan-nesburg meeting during the World Cup in South Africa on March 22, rewards teams for their performances in every Test match played as opposed to looking solely at series results.

An announcement regrading the new standings and the precise method of calculation will be made towards the end of May, the ICC said Tuesday. Rankings (tabulated under series played, won, lost, drawn, points, average):

Australia 13 10 2 1 21 1.62

South Africa 18 14 3 1 29 1.61

New Zealand 17 8 4 5 21 1.24

Sri Lanka 16 7 6 3 17 1.06

England 16 6 6 4 16 1.00

India 15 5 6 4 14 0.93

West Indies 17 7 10 0 14 0.82

Pakistan 16 4 8 4 12 0.75

Zimbabwe 16 3 11 2 8 0.50

Bangladesh 8 0 8 0 0 0.00

—AFP