According to the world championship table in cricketing bible, Wisden, which gives two points for a Test win and one for a draw, Australia have a huge lead at the top over South Africa, while England are struggling at the bottom of the table.

England also have bottom-of-the-pile New Zealand below them and have good prospects of improving their rating next summer when they face the Kiwis in a home Test series after the World Cup.

But above Alec Stewart's team are the likes of the improving Sri Lanka and West Indies, who remain third in the world despite their 4-0 hammering at the hands of South Africa in a series that is still ongoing.