ICC match officials for the series between Australia and New Zealand have been confirmed as:

Referee
Jackie Hendriks, the former West Indian Test wicketkeeper will take charge of the series. It will be his sixth Test series as an ICC referee, his first since refereeing Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka in 1999/2000 and his first involving New Zealand.

Umpires
Steve Bucknor of the West Indies will stand as the ICC panel umpire in the first two Test matches in Brisbane and Hobart and Ian Robinson of Zimbabwe will take charge of the final test in Perth.

ICC Test Championship Standings

Australia has not lost a home series against the Black Caps since 1985/6, nor a Test match in either country since 1992/93. It will be looking to cement its position at the top of the ICC Test Championship table ahead of the back-to-back series against South Africa. A victory for Australia would maintain the status quo for both sides, as Australia has won its previous encounters, both home and away.

A New Zealand win would drop Australia's points average from 1.62 to 1.46 (19 points from 13 series) and its position in the ICC Test Championship would then be dependant upon the result of the current series between South Africa and India.

A victory would take New Zealand's points average up to 1.07 (16 points from 15 series) and mean a move up to fifth place in the table, leap-frogging the West Indies.

A drawn rubber would allow New Zealand to draw level with the West Indies, with its average rising to 1 (15 points from 15 series). Australia, despite a drop to 1.54 (20 points from 13 series) from its current 1.62, would remain at the top of the table regardless of events in South Africa.

ICC TEST CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE, NOVEMBER 2001

Team          Played   Won     Lost   Drawn   Points   Average
Australia       13      10      2       1       21      1.62
South Africa    16      11      3       2       24      1.50
England         14       7      5       2       16      1.14
Sri Lanka       13       6      5       2       14      1.08
West Indies     13       6      6       1       13      1.00
New Zealand     15       6      7       2       14      0.93
Pakistan        15       3      7       5       11      0.73
India           13       3      7       3        9      0.69
Zimbabwe        15       2     11       2        6      0.40
Bangladesh       1       0      1       0        0       -

ICC BIOGRAPHIES

Jackie Hendriks (21/12/33)
Appointed to ICC Match Referees Panel: 1993
Test Match Series as ICC Referee: 5
1st Test: Australia v South Africa 1993/94

Steve Bucknor (31/05/46)
Appointed to ICC Umpires Panel: 1993
Test Matches as ICC Panel Umpire: 32
1st Test: 1994 England v New Zealand

Ian Robinson (03/11/47)
Appointed to ICC Umpires Panel: 1994
Test Matches as ICC Panel Umpire: 10
1st Test: West Indies v England 1994

Media contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7913/1818
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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