Cricket World Ratings 30th December 2017

Finally, after seven straight away defeats (and eight straight away defeats against Australia), England have managed not to lose a game, with Alastair Cook recovering form to make the major innings on a placid pitch in Melbourne; in the end, Australia had little trouble batting out for the draw.  Meanwhile, a one-match visit to South Africa by the Zimbabwe team has ended predictably in a home win.

The net effect on my world ratings is a small one:

India         200
Australia     129 -6
South Africa  103 +1
New Zealand    73 
England        36 +6
Sri Lanka      29    
Pakistan      -27    
West Indies   -86
Bangladesh   -135
Zimbabwe     -322 -2

The South African win, meanwhile, has had an even more marginal effect on the offical ratings, which now stand as follows:

India        124
South Africa 111
England      105 
New Zealand  100
Australia     97 
Sri Lanka     94
Pakistan      88  
West Indies   72   
Bangladesh    72  
Zimbabwe       1 -1

Cricket World Ratings 18th December 2017

 For England, it's over.  The Ashes have been conceded, after three straight defeats, to an Australian side that (at home at least) has proved itself manifestly superior.  While England have won four times at home on the trot, and once in Australia during this interval, in the three away series they have lost, the score is currently 13 played, 13 lost, which should give some food for thought.  All three games this year have gone into the fifth day; but in all three games, the victor was clear.  Another 5-0 drubbing appears on the cards.  And three times in about a year England have lost by an innings after scoring in excess of 400 in their first innings.  The vaunted England bowling attack, so unplayable at home, just doesn't appear to have what it takes when the ball isn't swinging.  It's true, home advantage has grown in test matches in recent years; but England's last 10 away matches have seen eight losses (including their first ever defeat to Bangladesh) and just one win (also against Bangladesh).  Something isn't right here. It's also interesting to think that when Pakistan last toured England little more than a year ago, both teams were vying for the position of "best team in the world". But both have had rude awakenings since.

Here's my current test world rankings, in which the new realities are quite clear:

India         200
Australia     135 +13
South Africa  102
New Zealand    73 
England        30 -13
Sri Lanka      29    
Pakistan      -27    
West Indies   -86
Bangladesh   -135
Zimbabwe     -320

Cricket World Ratings 13th December 2017

An easy second win for New Zealand over the West Indies has completes their series.  The Ashes series, between Australia and England, could be as good as over if Australia win the match starting in Perth today, even though there are still two matches to come, as the home team has two victories already to its credit.

India         200    
Australia     122   
South Africa  102    
New Zealand    73 +10  
England        43  
Sri Lanka      29   
Pakistan      -27    
West Indies   -86  -9   
Bangladesh   -135    
Zimbabwe     -320

And the official ratings look like this:

India        124
South Africa 111
England      105 
New Zealand  100 +3
Australia     97 
Sri Lanka     94
Pakistan      88  
West Indies   72 -3  
Bangladesh    72  
Zimbabwe       2 

I haven't  figured out exactly why the official ratings place Australia so poorly in comparison to mine, but if they continue the Ashes as they've started it, this will surely be corrected  in the near future.

Cricket World Ratings 6th December 2017

Three test matches have been played in the past week. In a match affected by severe pollution, Sri Lanka managed a second draw against India in their three-match series; India have secured a 1-0 series win.  The West Indies were well beaten by New Zealand.  And Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, and will be eyeing a possible whitewash against an England side that has had good results at home recently, but which appears ill-equipped to prosper down under.  My latest cricket ratings are as follows:

India         200 -10   
Australia     122 +14  
South Africa  102    
New Zealand    63 +10  
England        43 -14 
Sri Lanka      29 +10  
Pakistan      -27    
West Indies   -77 -10  
Bangladesh   -135    
Zimbabwe     -320

And the official ratings, now updated to include the India-Sri Lanka result, but not yet the two series still underway, look like this:

India        124 -1
South Africa 111
England      105 
New Zealand   97
Australia     97 
Sri Lanka     94
Pakistan      88  
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    72   
Zimbabwe       2

Cricket World Ratings 30th November 2017

Sri Lanka managed a draw in the first game of their series against India; it's been rare recently for a strong Indian side not to win at home. Match two saw a big Indian win, however; there's one more game to come between the two sides.  Then, India will tour South Africa, which should provide a real test of quite how good a team they actually are.

Meanwhile, after 3 competitive days, Australia asserted themselves to win the first match of the Ashes series.  England did not disgrace themselves; but ultimately, failed to suggest that the weaknesses they might have been expected to reveal down under will not ultimately prove fatal to their hopes.  Match 2, a day-nighter at Adelaide which stats later in the week, was always tipped as their best chance; if they lose it, the rest of the series could prove very tough.

Finally, West Indies are about the start a series against New Zealand; this is another series where a home win is likely, though by no means inevitable.

The current world ratings now look like this:


India         210  -2 
Australia     108 +15 
South Africa  102    
England        57 -15  
New Zealand    53    
Sri Lanka      19  +2 
Pakistan      -27    
West Indies   -67    
Bangladesh   -135    
Zimbabwe     -320

Cricket World Ratings 2nd November 2017

Zimbabwe were awarded test match status in the 1990s, but with a small cricketing community, and political and economic turmoil, they've consistently struggled against just about everyone, as well as having been banned for a substantial period.  Recently, their results (from the relatively few matches they have played) have been so bad that they've come within 1 point of setting the all-time lowest rating ever recorded on my rating system: Bangladesh were once rated 1 point worse, although they've since substantially improved.  In the ICC ratings, their score had fallen to zero, meaning they had lost every match in the period used to devise a rating.  Now, however, while still losing a series, they've managed to draw a match, against the West Indies: the first time they've played a game without losing since they beat Pakistan, in 2013.

India         212    
South Africa  102   
Australia      93    
England        72    
New Zealand    53    
Sri Lanka      17  
Pakistan      -27  
West Indies   -67  -13  
Bangladesh   -135    
Zimbabwe     -320  +13

And the official ratings are now like this:

India        125
South Africa 111
England      105 
New Zealand   97
Australia     97 
Sri Lanka     94
Pakistan      88  
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    72   
Zimbabwe       2 +2

The next test match will see Sri Lanka play in India; England's series in Australia begins shortly afterwards.

Cricket World Ratings 25th October 2017

3 matches have been played since the last report.  Sri Lanka have completed a 2-0 series win over Pakistan; and South Africa have seen off Bangladesh by a similar score.  Meanwhile, West Indies have seen off Zimbabwe in the first of those two teams' two matches, although Zimbabwe made a credible effort to chase a big target.  These two sides have one game left to play; meanwhile, next month will see Sri Lanka visit India, while the Ashes series between Australia and England will also get underway.

So my world ratings currently look like this:

India         212    
South Africa  102   +6 
Australia      93    
England        72    
New Zealand    53    
Sri Lanka      17  +17
Pakistan      -27  -16
West Indies   -54   +4  
Bangladesh   -135   -6  
Zimbabwe     -333   -5

 Zimbabwe's rating is their worst ever, and only 1 better than the lowest ever recorded rating (which was achieved by Bangladesh in 2008).

And the official ratings are as follows:

India        125
South Africa 111 +1
England      105 
New Zealand   97
Australia     97 
Sri Lanka     94 +4
Pakistan      88 -5   
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    72 -2  
Zimbabwe       0

Cricket World Ratings 2nd October 2017

Last autumn, Sri Lanka beat Australia, albeit with home advantage.  Since then, they've had a pretty poor run in test cricket.  But they've just recordred a notable win, beating Pakistan in Pakistan's current home of the Gulf.  Bangladesh have had a good year, on the other hand, defeating Sri Lanka and also both England and Australia.  But they've just received a beating in South Africa. A second match in both series begins on Friday.

Meanwhile, England, who will tour Australia in the winter, haven't played a test in the last few weeks, but they may have lost a star player, with Ben Stokes in trouble following a street brawl.  It will be a big loss if he's not available.

Anyway, here are the latest world ratings. Pakistan's continued downward slide is the most notable feature:

India         212    
South Africa   96   +7
Australia      93    
England        72    
New Zealand    53    
Sri Lanka       0  +18 
Pakistan      -11  -19 
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -129   -7
Zimbabwe     -328

Cricket World Ratings 9th September 2017

Normality has been restored with the last two test matches to have been completed.  That is to say, England beat the West Indies (who had surprsingly come from behind to level the two teams's three match series); and Australia won their second game in Bangladesh, to draw that series having lost the first game.  Still, Banglasdesh's progress should be noted: they've now drawn series against both England and Australia within a year. My cricket ratings now look as follows:

India         212     (+102)
Australia      93  +7    (0)
South Africa   89      (+14)
England        72 +10  (-17)
New Zealand    53       (+3)
Pakistan        8      (-91)
Sri Lanka     -18      (-71)
West Indies   -58 -10   (+9)
Bangladesh   -122  -6  (+50)
Zimbabwe     -328       (-8)

The numbers in brackets, incidentally, are the changes over the course of the past year.  The story of the past year has been India's dominance (albeit mostly acheived at home); Bangladesh's aforementioned improvment, and the failure of Pakistan to capitalise on their draw in England last summer and of Sri Lanka on their home win over Australia at around the same time.  The really interesting test will be to see how India do when they next venture further afield.

The offical ICC rankings don't look so different:

India        125
South Africa 110
England      105 
New Zealand   97
Australia     97 -3
Pakistan      93  
Sri Lanka     90    
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    74 +5  
Zimbabwe       0 

The immediate adjustments are different (i.e. Australia are up in my ratings but down in the official ones) because the ICC ratings are adjusted once per season, whereas my ratings are adjusted each game. The pecking order is also similar, except for the fact that the ICC ratings are harsher on Australia than mine.  As an Englishman, I'm hoping the ICC have it right ahead of this winter's Ashes series. Before that, test cricket resumes when Sri Lanka visit the U.A.E, (where Pakistan will host) early next month.

Cricket World Ratings 3rd September 2017

 Cricket, and sport in general, would be of no interest if the result was always predictable. And yet, sometimes predictability can be a self-fulfulling prophesy. Bangladesh are the youngest of the test-match playing nations; there is a large cricket-playing population there; but  because their side has not been very good, few have wanted to play them in test matches.  But without games, how can they get better?  Yet arguably, the team currently features the world's best all-rounder, and within the last year, they have improved on a record which had seen them only previously defeat Zimbabwe and the West Indies by beating England at home, Sril Lanka away and now, in the first game between the two sides for many years, Australia as well.  Their current rating of -116 is their best ever, and here's hoping that in future they get more regular chances to both demonstrate their talents, and improve them.

The fact that beating the West Indies had not been seen as much of an achievement is itself a sign of how far the West Indians, for long the world's best team, have fallen; and their abject loss to England in the first test of their current series was seen as a further sign of this.  But in another unexpected result, the team have squared the series in the second match, and moreover, have done so by playing with unexpected resolve.  The previously underperforming Shai Hope became the first batsmen ever to score two centuries in a first class match at Headingly, as the vistors sucessfully chased a total of over 300 to win the game.  England are still favourites for the series, but in Leeds, they were unambiguously outplayed.

One thing this does do is widen India's enormous lead at the top of the current rankings, but it's good to see signs of competitiveness below:

India         212    
South Africa   89    
Australia      86 -29  
England        62 -25  
New Zealand    53    
Pakistan        8    
Sri Lanka     -18    
West Indies   -48 +25 
Bangladesh   -116 +29  
Zimbabwe     -328

Cricket World Ratings 20th August 2017

The West Indies were, as recently as the 1990s, the best cricket team in the world; but for some years now, have been in a state of relative decline.  Moreover, too many players, even strong ones, come (from all over the world) to the swinging, seaming conditions of England and assume they can play test matches the same way they play the short form of the game elsewhere, in a relatively thoughtless manner. In their earlier series this summer against South Africa, England played 4 one-sided games; but they lost one (as well as winning three), and there were at least some close sessions in each of the games;the South Africans at least had the right approach.  But the first test of the England-West Indies series proved disappointing; not just because the margin was one-sided, but because the West Indians weren't even remotely competitive; or even resilient.  Alistair Cook very nearly outscored the entire West Indian total on his own, and he only had to bat once!

Still, at one level England won't mind; it's another win in the book, altough there is some concern about a divide opening up in test cricket, made worse by the especial strength of the strongest sides at home.

India         212    
Australia     115    
South Africa   89    
England        87 +9  
New Zealand    53    
Pakistan        8    
Sri Lanka     -18    
West Indies   -73 -9   
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -328

Cricket World Ratings 15th August 2017

India have now completed yet another win, and a 3-0 whitewash of their hosts Sri Lanka.  A quick update to the world ratings confirms India's dominace

India         212  +6 
Australia     115   
South Africa   89
England        78
New Zealand    53   
Pakistan        8    
Sri Lanka     -18  -6 
West Indies   -64    
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -328

And the offical ranking tell a similar story, albeit on a different scale:

India        125 +2
South Africa 110
England      105 
Australia    100  
New Zealand   97  
Pakistan      93  
Sri Lanka     90 -2   
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    69   
Zimbabwe       0 

Next up: West Indies begin a tough, and very late in the season, series in England, later this week.

Cricket World Ratings 7th August 2017

England have now completed their series against South Africa, which, like all recent series in England, consisted of one-sided tests.  England won three of them, the three matches in which they batted first (i.e. the team batting first won all three games); both sides are short of batsmen but have plenty of good bowling, but England prevailed thanks to their longer tail and the fact that their one batsman with genuine star quality, Joe Root, had a typically outstanding series whereas Hashim Amla, his opposite number, did not, and has possibly passed his peak.  Moeen Ali's development as a bowler was a welcome sign for the hosts' future; James Anderson yet again topped the bowling average in an English series, in spite of also turing 35 during it, and England will miss him when he's gone.

Meanwhile, India seem more-or-less invincible at the moment, and have taken a 2-0 lead over their latest hosts, Sri Lanka, with one test to go.  It will be interesting to see how this Indian team performs when it travels further afield - but its recent record at home and in the "near-abroad" is near impeccible.

The lastest world rankings are here: England have defeated South Africa the last time the sides met both at home and away, but overall, still trail them in the rankings:

India         206  +7 
Australia     115   
South Africa   89 -20
England        78 +20
New Zealand    53   
Pakistan        8    
Sri Lanka     -12  -7 
West Indies   -64    
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -328

As they also do in the official rankings, whose only point of deviance from mine is the lower position assigned to Australia.  Ahead of this winter's Ashes tour, I'm not sure England should take too much comfort from that.

India        123 
South Africa 110 -7
England      105 +6 
Australia    100  
New Zealand   97  
Pakistan      93  
Sri Lanka     92   
West Indies   75  
Bangladesh    69   
Zimbabwe       0

Cricket World Ratings 2nd August 2017

 In recent years, almost all test matches played in England have been one-sided, and the current series where the hosts are taking on South Africa is to date no exception: three matches in, England lead 2-1, but all three games have been won by over 200 runs.  Both teams are struggling for consistency in their batting, especially once the chips are down. India, meanwhile, aren't struggling at all; and a recent win over Sri Lanka has taken them to their highest ever rating. The current ratings are as follows:

India         199  +7
Australia     115    
South Africa  109 -23
England        58 +23
New Zealand    53    
Pakistan        8   
Sri Lanka      -5  -7
West Indies   -64    
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -328

And there's one match left to play in both series.

Cricket World Ratings 18th July 2017

The Champions Trophy, a one-day competition, occupied the first part of the English summer; but there are still seven scheduled tests, and the first two (of four between the home nation and South Africa) are now completed. In each game, the team batting first eventually won comfortably, England in the first game, South Africa in the second. It's an intriguing contest, England don't yet appear to have a balanced side (following on from their disastrous winter); South Africa are away from home and also possibly a couple of class players short (although there's certainly talent, as well as fragility, in both teams).  The remaining two matches are a very interesting propsect.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, who recently lost to Bangladesh for the first time, very nearly completed an unwelcome double by getting into a disastrous position against Zimbabwe; but came from behind with an epic run chase.  Moreoever, this is an isolated test, so Zimbabwe will not get another chance to prove their near-miss was no fluke.

So the current status of the world ratings are as follows:

India         192   
South Africa  132 -10  
Australia     115   
New Zealand    53   
England        35 +10
Pakistan        8  
Sri Lanka       2  +3   
West Indies   -64 
Bangladesh   -145   
Zimbabwe     -328  -3

And the official world ratings, which take into account the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe test, but not the still incompelte England-South Africa Series:

India        123 +1
South Africa 117 +8
Australia    100 -8
England       99 -2
New Zealand   97 +1
Pakistan      93 -4
Sri Lanka     92 +2
West Indies   75 +6
Bangladesh    69 +3
Zimbabwe       0 -5

One odd feature of the official world ratings is that they divide up the cricket year into defined seasons, and when the new season begins, the old ratings get reset, with more dramatic changes than usual - so every team's rating has gone up or down since I last checked the list. Another point to note is that after these changes, the two lists are more in agreement than they were before.  Finally, poor Zimbabwe, who are both a weak team but who also get to play little cricket, sadly no longer have a single positive result that scores them any credit in the eligible period.  In my system, there is no theoretical limit to how low a team can be rated: their current score of -328 isn't quite a record (in 2008, they rated -334).  But the ICC system is grounded at zero, and that's where Zimbabwe sit right now.

Cricket World Ratings 15th May 2017

Pakistan have now completed their test series in the West Indies: they lost the 2nd test, but won the first and the last, to take a series victory overall.  The series marks the last appearance of two of their great batsmen, Younis Khan and their almost 43-year old captain Misbah ul-Haq, who managed a half-century in his final test.  These two evergreen veterans will be sorely missed, but leave behind great contributions: Younis made 10,000 runs at an excellent average of 52, while Misbah made 5000 at 44, and almost all past the age of 35.  The result leaves the rankings as follows:

India         192    
South Africa  142    
Australia     115    
New Zealand    53    
England        25    
Pakistan        8 +15  
Sri Lanka      -1    
West Indies   -64 -15  
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -325

And there's now a break from test cricket until July, when England host South Africa, a tough series for the home side and the first under their new captain Joe Root.

Cricket World Ratings 8th May 2017

 For over a decade (centred on the 1980s), the West Indies dominated international cricket, but the last 20 years have been tough for them; and recently, only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have rated lower than the West Indians in my cricket world ratings. Indeed, the last time the West Indians were higher than 8th in the pecking order was late 2013, which is quite notable given the effect that a single good series can have - in other words, it's been a long time since the West Indies last had a really good series.  But they have just won a good, comeback victory in their second (home) test against Pakistan, keeping the series open and lifting them back towards the other top nations (though not yet out of eigth place - they need a whole good series, and not just an isolated win, for that).  As for Pakistan, they very brielfy held top place in the official world rankings (though not in mine) at the end of last summer; but it hasn't been a great winter for them, and they now sit just one place, and 42 points, above their current opponents.

India         192    
South Africa  142    
Australia     115    
New Zealand    53    
England        25    
Sri Lanka      -1    
Pakistan       -7 -22  
West Indies   -49 +22 
Bangladesh   -145   
Zimbabwe     -325

The decider in this 3 match series will be played this week.

Cricket World Ratings 27th April 2017

 The latest test matches to be played are a three match series in which Pakistan are visiting the West Indies.  Pakistan recently got the better of their hosts when they were at home (well, in the U.A.E., where they are currently playing their "home" fixtures), and their away series has started quite well too, with an undefeated 99 runs from veteran captain Misbah ul-Haq a major contribution to a comfortable win in the first test.  So currently, the world ratings look like this:


India         192   
South Africa  142    
Australia     115   
New Zealand    53    
England        25    
Pakistan       15 +13  
Sri Lanka      -1    
West Indies   -71 -13  
Bangladesh   -145    
Zimbabwe     -325

The next test starts on Saturday.

Cricket World Ratings 31st March 2017

 Quite a lot of cricket has been played in the last couple of weeks.  With their series against Australia tied at 1-1, India drew their next game; but won the final one, completing a comeback victory and cementing their place on top of cricket's world ratings. South Africa, touring New Zealand, have drawn one and won one; while Bnagladesh have followed up their home win against England late last year with their best ever away victory, against Sri Lanka, a development that has boosted them to their highest ever level in the ratings.  Put together, these results leave us with the following pecking order:

India         192 +11  
South Africa  142  +7  
Australia     115 -11  
New Zealand    53  -7 
England        25    
Pakistan        2    
Sri Lanka      -1 -28 
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -145 +27  
Zimbabwe     -325

The offical ratings tell a mostly similar story, although the order is slightly different, as are the margins:

India        122 +2
South Africa 109 +2
Australia    108 -1
England      101
Pakistan      97
New Zealand   96 -2
Sri Lanka     90 -2
West Indies   69
Bangladesh    66 +4
Zimbabwe       5

From here, the schedule gets lighter for a bit.  Pakistan visit the West Indies at the end of April.  What will be most interesting is when India, whose current rating is as high as it's ever been, hit the road, and try to defend the plaudits won on home soil elsewhere.

Cricket World Ratings 13th March 2017

3 test matches have just been completed.  New Zealand (at home) were holding their own against a strong South African team when rain washed out the match (a perrenial hazard when games are scheduled in the South Island); Sri Lanka saw off Bangldesh; and most notably, India came from behind to win their second test against Australia, an important result following their wholly unexpected thrashing in the first test.  The result of all this is to consolidate India's position as number one team.

India         181 +16 
South Africa  135  -5 
Australia     126 -15  
New Zealand    60  +5 
Sri Lanka      26  +8 
England        25    
Pakistan        2    
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -172  -8  
Zimbabwe     -325

In all 3 series, another round of matches start this week, and there's then one more test in both of India and New Zealand. These games will essentially mark the end of the test cricket year.  There's then a gap - of a little under a month - before the next round of matches start, when Pakistan travel to the West Indies at the end of April.

Cricket World Ratings 2th February 2017

This winter has told a story of Indian ascendency.  With a string of home games giving them an advantage, the Indians have built up a position as the world's number one team, most notably by beating England in 4 consecutive games.  At the end of the English summer, several sides, inclduing not only England but also Pakistan and Australia were in contention for this title.  6 months or so later, India appear dominant.  The Australians have done well in their last few matches, but were damaged by a catastrophe in Sri Lanka and a poor start at home against Aouth Africa.  Thrashing Paskistan has lifted them back in the ratings, but few would have expected them to sustain this during their visit to India.  But in the most surprising result in recent months, the team has not only won their first test, but have slaughtered the home side, dismissing them twice for barely more than 100 runs.  Spinner O'Keefe was their hero, with 12 wickets in the match.  England, who barely looked capable to taking a single Indian wicket at times, must be looking on in envy.

Now, one match doesn't completely change the world ratings, but it does narrow the gap, and give Australia hope of taking the number one spot for themselves if they can secure a famous series win.  There's still a lot of work to do before that can happen; but suddenly, India don't look quite so invincible any more. The current ratings are listed below

India         165 -21
Australia     141 +20  
South Africa  140    
New Zealand    55    
England        25    
Sri Lanka      18    
Pakistan        2    
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -164   
Zimbabwe     -325

Cricket World Ratings 13th February 2017

Some matches are predictable.  Had Bangldesh managed to beat India, in the only test the two nations were scheduled to play, the result would have been a major shock. India's comfortable 200-run win is barely news, and has little effect on the world ratings, which are essentially unchanged:

India         186 +3
South Africa  140    
Australia     121   
New Zealand    55   
England        25    
Sri Lanka      18    
Pakistan        2    
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -164 -2 
Zimbabwe     -325

The official ratings are similarly hardly touched, although notice the non-reciprocality, due to the complex rules that apply when there's a big gap between the ratings of two teams:

India        120 +1
Australia    109
South Africa 107
England      101
New Zealand   98
Pakistan      97
Sri Lanka     92
West Indies   69
Bangladesh    62 -3
Zimbabwe       5 


India's rating is now the highest it has ever been under my system, but a bigger challenge awaits them before the month is out: Australia will come to the subcontinent.  But given the hard time the antipodean team had in Sri Lanka last year, it will be a real surprise if they manage to take the shine off India's recent impressive run. 

Cricket World Ratings 23rd January 2017

New Zealand have just won their second test against Bangldesh, with a small effect on the ratings as follows:

India         183    
South Africa  140    
Australia     121    
New Zealand    55 +7
England        25    
Sri Lanka      18    
Pakistan        2    
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -162 -7  
Zimbabwe     -325

And in the official ratings, the effect is similar:

India        120
Australia    109
South Africa 107
England      101
New Zealand   98 +2
Pakistan      97
Sri Lanka     92
West Indies   69
Bangladesh    65 -3
Zimbabwe       5 

Next up, Bangldesh face a near impossible challenge when they play a single test in India in early February.

Cricket World Ratings 19th January 2017

Two more results with which to update my cricket world ratings: another win for South Africa over Sri Lanka (making their record 3/3 in the current series), and a victory for New Zealand over Bangladesh.   Neither reuslt is surprising, and in consequenc, the latest ratings now look as follows:

India         183    
South Africa  140 +11  
Australia     121    
New Zealand    48 +7   
England        25    
Sri Lanka      18 -12 
Pakistan        2    
West Indies   -58   
Bangladesh   -155  -7  
Zimbabwe     -325

The result in South Africa has completed that series, which now shows up  in the officla ratings too:

India        120
Australia    109
South Africa 107 +5
England      101
Pakistan      97
New Zealand   96
Sri Lanka     92 -4
West Indies   69
Bangladesh    65
Zimbabwe       5 

The main difference being the relatively low status of Pakistan in my list.

Next matches: Bangladesh, who beat England in one game (at home) this winter, play one more match in New Zealand, and then face a near-impossible challenge (according to the statistics) in a single match in India.

Cricket World Ratings 7th January 2017

 Recent test matches have brought success for three home sides: India against England, Australia against Sri Lanka, and South Africa against Pakistan.  Collectively, the home teams are winning by the the score of 9-0, with one draw, confirming the general trend for Asian sides to be strong at home, and weak away.  Interestingly, the effect this has had on my rating system for cricket sides has been to life New Zealand (narrowly) to fourth place; it's also notable that the gap between Pakistan and the West Indies looks smaller than it has done for quite a while.  Meanwhile, India rank top, and with quite a good margin, while Australia have quickly bounced back from a brief, disastrous run of five consecutive defeats.

India         183    
South Africa  129 +13  
Australia     121 +14  
New Zealand    41    
Sri Lanka      30 -12   
England        25    
Pakistan        2 -11 
West Indies   -58    
Bangladesh   -148   
Zimbabwe     -325

The offical ratings, meanwhile, tell a similar (but not identical) story:

India        120
Australia    109 +4
South Africa 102
England      101
Pakistan      97 -5
New Zealand   96
Sri Lanka     96
West Indies   69
Bangladesh    65
Zimbabwe       5 

The next test scheduled is the final game between South Africa and Sri Lanka, which starts next week.