Cricket World Ratings 29th December 2019

England' miserable winter continues: after losing their two test series in New Zealand, they've just been worsted in their first test against South Africa.  New Zealand, though, have had a tougher time of things in Australia than they did at home: they've just lost their second (successive) test.  My world ratings now look like this:

India         259    
Australia     208 +13  
New Zealand   139 -13
South Africa  129 +18
England       125 -18     
Sri Lanka      93
Pakistan       78  
West Indies   -13    
Bangladesh   -126    
Zimbabwe     -252    
Afghanistan  -303    
Ireland      -339

Both series continue in the new year.

Cricket World Ratings 23rd December 2019

Pakistan have had a bad time in world cricket of late; but they've just succeeded in beating Sri Lanka in the second test between the two countries, completing a 1-0 series win at home. My world ratings now look like this:

India         259    
Australia     195  
New Zealand   152   
England       143     
South Africa  111
Sri Lanka      93 -21
Pakistan       78 +21 
West Indies   -13    
Bangladesh   -126    
Zimbabwe     -252    
Afghanistan  -303    
Ireland      -339

 The offical world ratings are as follows:

India         120
New Zealand   112
South Africa  102
England       102
Australia     102 
Sri Lanka      92 -3
Pakistan       85 +5  
West Indies    81
Bangladesh     60
Afghanistan    49
Zimbabwe       16
Ireland         0

Meanwhile, on Boxing Day, Australia and New Zealand resume their series (Australia lead 1-0 after one test), and England begin their tour of South Africa.

Cricket World Ratings 16th December 2019

As the year draws to a close, two things are becoming clear in world cricket's pacing order: firstly, that India are streets ahead of anybody else, and secondly, that Australia are the best of the rest.  Both are particularly invincible at home: Australia have just steamrollered New Zealand, arguably the 3rd best team, in their first test.  Meanwhile, one struggling side (Sri Lanka) have drawn with another (Pakistan, who actually playing at home, their first home test for quite a while after a long interval spent playing in the Gulf due to security concerns).  My world ratings now look like this:

India         259    
Australia     195 +16  
New Zealand   152 -16  
England       143   
Sri Lanka     115  +2  
South Africa  111    
Pakistan       57  -2 
West Indies   -13    
Bangladesh   -126    
Zimbabwe     -252    
Afghanistan  -303    
Ireland      -339

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play again before Christmas: on Boxing Day, Australia and New Zealand resume, and England begin their tour of South Africa.

Cricket World Ratings 3rd December 2019

England have just drawn their second test in New Zealand.  But the hosts have won the series; and England have completed the year without a test series win. Meanwhile, Australia have twice trounced Pakistan; and the West Indies have seen off newcomers Afghanistan in a single test.  My cricket world ratings now look like this:

India         256
Australia     179  +9
New Zealand   168  -8
England       143  +8
Sri Lanka     113 
South Africa  111
Pakistan       59 -10  
West Indies   -13  +9     
Bangladesh   -122    
Zimbabwe     -252                
Afghanistan  -303  -8
Ireland      -339
 
The official ratings, which also include an update from the recent India-Bangladesh series, now look like this:

India         120 +1
New Zealand   112 +3
South Africa  102
England       102 -2
Australia     102 +3
Sri Lanka      95    
West Indies    81 +1
Pakistan       80 -4
Bangladesh     60 -1
Afghanistan    49 -6
Zimbabwe       16
Ireland         0

So very similar, but notably less kind to Australia.  I think my own ratings are probably more on the mark here.  It's also interesting that Pakistan have fallen behind West Indies, who haven't been rated in the top six for a long time, although this speaks more of Pakistan's current weakness than of any West Indies revival. Next up: Pakistan try to rebuild at home to Sri Lanka; while New Zealand travel to Australia, in a credible struggle for the game's number two slot.

Cricket World Ratings 25th November 2019

In late August, England came from behind against Australia to win one of the closest test matches of all time, securing victory with their last pair at the wicket.  Since then, 12 test matches have been played. All 12 have been won by the team batting first. The first six were won by at least 135 runs; the last 6 have all been won by over an innings.  A close test match is a wonderful sporting event, a contest in which two teams battle for five days in pursuit of victory.  But it’s increasingly noted that we don’t seem to get close matches anymore; moreover, the last eight games have all ended in home victories.  The three most recent games have seen India complete a 2-0 win over Bangladesh, and Australia and New Zealand begin their home series against Pakistan and England respectively with a win.

My cricket world ratings currently look like this:

India         259  +1  
New Zealand   176 +16  
Australia     170 +11  
England       135 -16  
Sri Lanka     113    
South Africa  111    
Pakistan       69 -11 
West Indies   -22    
Bangladesh   -126  -2   
Zimbabwe     -252    
Afghanistan  -295    
Ireland      -339

I'm still waiting for the official ratings to update to include the results from the India-Bangladesh series. Coming up next: the series in Australia and New Zealand continue, while the West Indies travel to Afghanistan (whose inaugural test win, over Ireland, is one of those 12 recent big victories) to play a single game. 

Cricket World Ratings 19th November 2019

India really are on top form at the moment; they've just added another test win, their seventh in a row, against visitors Bangladesh. Their latest win doesn't change the world ratings very much as it's virtually the predicted result.  The adjusted ratings look like this:

India         258 +2
New Zealand   160 
Australia     159
England       151
Sri Lanka     113 
South Africa  111
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -124 -2   
Zimbabwe     -252                
Afghanistan  -295
Ireland      -339

Bangladesh and India still have another match to play; that game will overlap with England's first test in New Zealand, a contest that is harder to predict with confidence.

Cricket world ratings 25/10/2019

A few weeks ago I predicted a good contest when South Africa toured India.  No such luck. India have just completed their third victory in 3 matches: they won the first game by over 200 and the next two by sucessively larger margins.  The current Indian team might not be the greatest of all time but at home they're simply awesome.  Their domination of my world ratings is clear:

India         256 +9
New Zealand   160 
Australia     159
England       151
Sri Lanka     113
South Africa  111 -8
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -122    
Zimbabwe     -252                
Afghanistan  -295
Ireland      -339
 
The grading system on the official ratings puts less emphasis on India's margin of superiority, but still has them clearly top:

India         119 +4
New Zealand   109
England       104
South Africa  102 -6
Australia      99
Sri Lanka      95
Pakistan       84
West Indies    80
Bangladesh     61
Afghanistan    55
Zimbabwe       16
Ireland         0 

Bangladesh will be the next team to try their luck in India, next month; that month also sees Pakistan visit Australia.

Cricket World Ratings 13th October 2019

India have just won their second test (out of two so far) against South Africa; with only one match left, the series is won. The current status of my world ratings is as follows:
 

India         247  +9
New Zealand   160 
Australia     159
England       151
South Africa  119 -10
Sri Lanka     113 
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -122    
Zimbabwe     -252                 
Afghanistan  -295
Ireland      -339

After a while when no team has held a massive advantage at the top of the rankings (and South Africa were themselves top as recently as February), India have built a strong position for themselves. Their current rating is their highest ever, and only Australia have ever has a higher score, although, as a measure of their advantage over a hypothetical mean team, it is boosted by the recent grant of test status to Afghanistan and Ireland. Their lead over 2nd place, an alternative measure of domiance, is not yet a record (it was 110 points as recently as 2017) but isn't far off. It's worth noting that in 2008, Australia had a lead over 2nd place of 245 points, so there's still a way to go before all-time dominance is reached, but their number 1 position is hard to question. We will see shortly if they can complete a whitewash.

Cricket World Ratings 7th October 2019

Presently, India have a strong cricket side.  When they lost in the World Cup semi-final to New Zealand it was something of a shock, given how assured they had look previously; in test cricket, they are the top-rated team and have just won their first test in their latest series against South Africa.  There remains a suspicion that they’re not as good away as at home; they were well beaten when their test side last toured England.  On their own turf, they appear close to unbeatable.

The current status of my world ratings is as follows:

India         238 +11
New Zealand   160 
Australia     159
England       151
South Africa  129 -11
Sri Lanka     113 
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -122    
Zimbabwe     -252                 
Afghanistan  -295
Ireland      -339

The second test (of three) in the India-South Africa series starts on Thursday this week.

Cricket World Ratings 16th September 2019

A long English summer of international cricket is now over.  The Ashes have been retained by Australia, but the series was drawn 2-2.  The result seems fair: England won one match by the faintest of margins, but had the advantage in a rain-affected draw.  With the awesome Steve Smith, Australia generally looked the team most likely to, but their highest opening stand in 10 attempts was a pathetic 18.  Overall, it was an enjoyable encounter, but both sides still have selection problems going forward.  At the end of it, my world ratings look like this:

India         227
New Zealand   160 
Australia     159 -19
England       151 +20
South Africa  140
Sri Lanka     113 
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -122    
Zimbabwe     -252                 
Afghanistan  -295
Ireland      -339

There' s little to choose between England and Australia, and that looks about right to me.  The official ratings tell a similar, but slightly different story:

India         115
New Zealand   109
South Africa  108
England       104 -1
Australia      99 +1
Sri Lanka      95
Pakistan       84
West Indies    80
Bangladesh     61
Afghanistan    55
Zimbabwe       16
Ireland         0 

South Africa tour India next month.  It's always hard for teams to win in India, and they won't start as favourites, but it should be a good contest.

Cricket World Ratings 9th September 2019

England have won the 50 over World Cup this summer; but in spite of home advantage, they have failed to retake the Ashes, the prize awarded to the winners of the series they play against Australia. That trophy is retained by its holders, not shared, in the event of a drawn series; and Australia, who won the last time the two teams played, are now one-up with one to play. England pulled off a freakish comeback win in the 3rd test, and came unexpectedly close to securing a draw in the 4th to keep their hopes alive.  But Australia, led from the front by their brilliant captain Steve Smith, have looked the stronger side throughout and now cannot be defeated in the series.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan lost every game they played in the Word Cup; but have just pulled off a notable away win, against Bangladesh, a very surprising result.  My cricket world ratings now look like this:

India         227
Australia     178 +27
New Zealand   160
South Africa  140
England       131 -28
Sri Lanka     113 
Pakistan       80  
West Indies   -22     
Bangladesh   -122 -39     
Zimbabwe     -252                 
Afghanistan  -295 +39
Ireland      -339

The official ratings, incorporating both the Banglades-Afghanistan result, and also India's recent victory in the West Indies since I last updated these, now look as follows:

India         115 +2
New Zealand   109
South Africa  108
England       105
Australia      98
Sri Lanka      95
Pakistan       84
West Indies    80 -2
Bangladesh     61 -4
Afghanistan    55 +30
Zimbabwe       16
Ireland         0 

The final Ashes test stars this week.