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.