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.