DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC)

Through no effort on their part, West Indies have moved up to seventh on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship table.

The elevation for Chris Gayle's side comes at the expense of their next Test opponents New Zealand.

The Black Caps slipped below the Maroon Caps to eighth, following Australia's 2-0 sweep in their Test series which ended yesterday.

New Zealand were just one ratings point ahead of West Indies before the series, but defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide meant they lost that slender lead and fall to eighth by a fraction of a point.

West Indies had been stuck in eighth place in the Championship table since June 2003 before they were overtaken.

No rest

But Gayle and his side cannot rest easy, since Daniel Vettori and the New Zealanders have an immediate opportunity to claim the place back, as they prepare for a two-Test series against West Indies starting next Thursday.

Victory in that series would see New Zealand return to seventh in the table, but a drawn series or defeat would leave West Indies ahead.

Meantime, South Africa have moved back ahead of India in the Test Championship table after their comprehensive defeat of Bangladesh over two Tests.

With the two sides being separated by just a fraction of a ratings point before the series began, the Proteas always had the chance to take back the number two spot that India had snatched from them by beating Australia 2-0 in October/November.

Relative ease

They needed to win both matches against Bangladesh, in Bloemfontein and Centurion, in order to do so, a feat that was achieved with relative ease.

Despite the win, there are still 13 points separating Australia in first place from second-place South Africa as Ricky Ponting's team gained a point for its 2-0 series win over New Zealand which concluded in Adelaide yesterday.

ICC Test Championship

1. Australia

2. South Africa

3. India

4. Sri Lanka

5. England

6. Pakistan

7. West Indies

8. New Zealand

9. Bangladesh