Cricket World Ratings 29th January 2021

South Africa made a good start to their first test in Pakistan; however, the hosts rallied and in the end won fairly easily.  In my cricket world ratings have adjusted as follows, with the two sides remaining close but having swapped places:

1. India         254   
   
2. New Zealand   208    
3. England       196 
   
4. Australia     177 
5. Pakistan       93 +17
6. South Africa   75 -17  
7. Sri Lanka      16   
   
8. West Indies    -4    
9. Bangladesh   -122    
10. Zimbabwe     -251    
11. Afghanistan  -303    
12. Ireland      -33

They play a second test next week while West Indies begin a two match series in Bangladesh.

Cricket World Ratings 25th January 2021

England have just completed a 2-0 away win in Sri Lanka, winning from the front in the first test, and from behind in the second.  Sri Lanka's fragile batting undermined them in both matches; England's spin attack, limited in theory, turned out to be good enough, although tougher challenges await in India. My world ratings now look like this:

1. India         254   
   
2. New Zealand   208    
3. England       196 +16  
   
4. Australia     177   
   
5. South Africa   92    
6. Pakistan       76    
7. Sri Lanka      16 -16  
   
8. West Indies    -4    
9. Bangladesh   -122    
10. Zimbabwe     -251    
11. Afghanistan  -303    
12. Ireland      -339

And the official ratings are not so disimilar, although there are some differences, most notably at the very top.

1. New Zealand   118 
2. India         118 
3. Australia     113
4. England       108 +2    
5. South Africa   96
6. Sri Lanka      83 -3 
7. Pakistan       82
8. West Indies    77 
9. Bangladesh     55 

Tomorrow sees the start of South Africa's two match series against Pakistan. Next month, England's trip to India begins, while the West Indies visit Bangladesh.

 

Cricket World Ratings 19th January 2020

 

Most test matches end in home wins; but England have just won in Sri Lanka, and India in Australia.  The latter victory is the more remarkable, as it gives India a series victory, even though they lost the first game after being bowled out for just 36, and subsequently they played the remaining three games with a seriously depleted side.  These results have affected my world rankings as follows:

1. India         254 +24  
   
2. New Zealand   208    
3. England       180 +19  
   
4. Australia     177 -25  
   
5. South Africa   92    
6. Pakistan       76    
7. Sri Lanka      32 -19  
   
8. West Indies    -4    
9. Bangladesh   -122    
10. Zimbabwe     -251    
11. Afghanistan  -303    
12. Ireland      -339

 So India have opened up a clear advantage, and Australia and England are now just about level.

 In the official ratings, which don't yet include England's game, India climb above Australia, but New Zealand maintain their recently acquired position on top of the world:

1. New Zealand   118 
2. India         118 +4
3. Australia     113 -3
4. England       106    
5. South Africa   96
6. Sri Lanka      86 
7. Pakistan       82
8. West Indies    77 
9. Bangladesh     55 

Next up, Sri Lanka resume against England, while South Africa begin a potentially very challenging tour of Pakistan.

Cricket World Ratings 11th January 2021

 The latest round of test cricket saw New Zealand complete a 2-0 defeat of Pakistan; South Africa similarly dispatch Sri Lanka; but India, after losing their first test in humiliating fashion on their four match tour of Australia, have now won the second and held on for a draw in the third. My cricket world ratings now look like this:

1. India        230  +4  
   
2. New Zealand  208  +9  
   
3. Australia    202  -4 
   
4. England      161    
5. South Africa  92 +15  
   
6. Pakistan      76  -9  
   
7. Sri Lanka     51 -15
   
8. West Indies   -4    
9. Bangladesh  -122    
10. Zimbabwe    -251    
11. Afghanistan -303    
12. Ireland     -339
    

And the official world ratings (which don't yet include results from the series in Australia) are as follows:

1. New Zealand   118 +2
   
2. Australia     116 
3. India         114
4. England       106    
5. South Africa   96 +6
6. Sri Lanka      86 -5
7. Pakistan       82 -3
   
8. West Indies    77 
9. Bangladesh     55 

This the the first time New Zealand have ever held the number one spot.  They're close in my ratings too, although there's no result in the remaining game in Australia, starting later this week, that couldleave them on top.  Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have returned home and their first test against England will also start in a couple of days.