ICC relaunches World Test championship
The International Cricket Council relaunched its World Test championship on Wednesday after conceding that the concept had failed to catch the imagination of supporters.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told a news conference at Lord's: "I don't think it has caught on as much as I would have liked it to happen. I think it will take time. It needs close contests at the top of the ladder."
The new table will be based on rolling results going back three or four years and will reward teams for each Test result.
The previous table was based on series rather than match results, dating back to 1996.
"We want a system that reflects current form rather than past form," Speed added. "Our first table was introduced in May 2001 but we believe there can be a better system.
"Each match is now relevant, as well as a bonus for the result of the series."
Wins over higher-ranked sides will also earn more points than successes over minor teams.
Australia, the world's outstanding Test side, will continue to top the table ahead of South Africa but, under the new rating system, their lead will be extended.
New Zealand are third in the table, followed by Sri Lanka, England, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
England's two-Test series against Zimbabwe, starting on Thursday, will launch the new standings.
Latif hopes his young guns will fire in final
After a tournament dominated by bowlers, it will be a big surprise if the tri-series final between New Zealand and Pakistan on Friday is a high-scoring affair.
But Pakistan must take on the Kiwis without their trump card after Shoaib Akhtar was handed a two-match ban for ball-tampering. He took three wickets for 36 runs to help his side beat New Zealand by 22 runs in Tuesday's final qualifying game.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes his side can turn the tables and collect their first one-day trophy in three years.
Pakistan have made encouraging progress since their first round exit from the World Cup, with the younger players responding well to the promptings of skipper Rashid Latif and coach Javed Miandad. They won their last tournament in Sharjah without Shoaib, and Latif hopes they will rise to the occasion again.
"Shoaib is a world-class bowler, and we will miss him, but I am relying on 11 players not on one bowler to the win the match," he said.
Australia appeals to buy Bradman cap
The Australian Cricket Board has launched a public appeal to purchase the cap Don Bradman wore in his last Test appearance in 1948.
The cap has been in Britain for the past 47 years after Bradman gave it away to his English godson but will be auctioned in July.
The ACB and an Australian newspaper group have joined forces to try and buy the baggy green cap and bring it back to the country.
ACB chairman Bob Merriman said the cap would be put on display in an Australian museum.
Olonga for peaceful protests during Test
Former Zimbabwe paceman Henry Olonga has welcomed the likelihood of protests during the first Test against England at Lord's, but hopes any demonstration on Thursday will not get out of control.
In his exclusive column for the BBC Sport web site, Olonga said: "I think they should go ahead, but people mustn't disrupt the cricket.
"It may affect the Zimbabwe players if they prevent the team bus getting into the ground, something like that, but the team knows these protests are going to happen.
Streak hoping "new Andy Flower" will emerge
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak hopes a "new Andy Flower" will emerge during the current tour of England.
Zimbabwe go into the first Test at Lord's without star batsman Flower, a mainstay of the African side since it was granted Test status in 1992. Both Flower and pace bowler Henry Olonga are no longer in the team following their black armband World Cup protest against Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe.
And since Zimbabwe's last tour of England in 2000, batsman Murray Goodwin and all-rounders Neil Johnson and Guy Whittall have also quit international cricket.
"We're in a new phase," says Streak. "It's a great opportunity for young guys to claim a place. Hopefully, one of them will be the new Andy Flower."
But Zimbabwe will be up against an England side in which only captain Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart played against Zimbabwe the last time the teams met in a Lord's Test.
"You've got to respect the guys who are there but they will be missing some experienced players," Streak said.
Fast bowler Streak said he is fully fit after suffering a back spasm during Zimbabwe's tour match against Worcestershire earlier this month which forced him off the field.
