Sri Lanka commence their three-Test series against West Indies on Tuesday knowing that a series win will guarantee will see them climb up the ICC Test Championship table.

This will be the first full Test series between the two countries in Sri Lanka following a one-off Test as long ago as 1993/94. A win for the home side would increase Sri Lanka's points average from 1.08 to 1.14 (16 points from 14 series) and move it up to joint third place on the table with England.

Victory for the tourists would mean West Indies replacing Sri Lanka in fourth position, as its points average would increase to from 1.00 to 1.07 (15 points from 14 series), with Sri Lanka's dropping to 1.00 (14 points from 14 series).

A drawn series would not affect the standing of either country; Sri Lanka would remain third despite a marginal points average decrease to 1.07 (15 points from 14 series) from 1.08. The West Indies would hold onto fifth place with exactly the same points average of 1.00 (14 points from 14 series).

ICC TEST CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE, NOVEMBER 2001

     Team      Played  Won  Lost  Drawn   Points
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   -

© Cricinfo