Cricket World Ratings 23rd June 2021

 

All test matches are equal, but some are more equal than others.  The International Cricket Council recently instituted a system whereby the two best teams in the world would play off against each other, periodically: the first such match has just been played out between India and New Zealand and the latter, so cruelly robbed in the 50-over world cup, managed to win.  It's a great triumph for a small nation where cricket isn't even the principal national sport, and for a side with many good players but more notable for its team ethos than its stars.  Meanwhile, I had to change my algorithm to calculate the ratings, which had no previous facility to record a match played on neutral ground.  Fittingly, the win takes New Zealand top in my ratings for the first time ever. At the same time, South Africa have just completed a 2-0 win in West Indies, so my rankings now look like this:

1. New Zealand   260 +24 
2. India         243 -23 
3. Australia     177 
4. England       155
5. Pakistan      118  
6. South Africa  104 +20 
   
7. Sri Lanka      20
8. West Indies   -26 -20
   
9. Bangladesh   -148    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -261   
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
12. Ireland      -338

Oddly, the Test Championship doesn't affect the official ratings, which are based only on series of two games or more; however, New Zealand had already taken first place after beating England earlier in the month.

1. New Zealand   123 
   
2. India         121 
3. Australia     108
4. England       107 
5. Pakistan       94 
6. South Africa   88 +8
7. West Indies    78 -6
8. Sri Lanka      78
9. Bangladesh     46 
   
10. Zimbabwe       35 

The next test, in early July, sees Bangladesh visit Zimbabwe.

Cricket World Ratings 13th June 2021

Earlier this year, after winning twice in Sri Lanka then again in India, England sat briefly on top of my test cricket world ratings.  Since then, the team has lost four games in five, and two series, their latest defeat to New Zealand, who will now play India, their other tormentors, in the inaugaral world test cricket championship final.  Meanwhile, South Africa just secured a good victory in the first game of their West Indies tour.  My cricket world ratings now look like this:

1. India         266     
2. New Zealand   236 +24
   
3. Australia     177 
4. England       155 -25
5. Pakistan      118  
6. South Africa   84 +24 
   
7. Sri Lanka      20
8. West Indies    -6 -24
   
9. Bangladesh   -148    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -261   
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
12. Ireland      -338

Meanwhile, in the official ratings, New Zealand go top, I think for the very first time:

1. New Zealand   123 +3
   
2. India         121 
3. Australia     108
4. England       107 -2 
5. Pakistan       94
6. West Indies    84
7. South Africa   80
8. Sri Lanka      78
9. Bangladesh     46 
   
10. Zimbabwe       35 

But both systems support the choice of the two sides who'll be playing for the championship.

Cricket World Ratings 6th June 2021

New Zealand have rarely rated higher in world cricket than at present; they're within a point of the top of the official world ratings, and second (though more distant from first place) in mine.  This summer, they're touring England; and they've had the better of a rain-affected draw in the season's first test.  This has a minor impact only on my ratings; but it certainly won't be easy for England to beat them when they meet again next week.  After that, they stay in England, to meet India in the inaugaral world test cricket championship final.

1. India         266     
2. New Zealand   212 +4
   
3. England       180 -4
4. Australia     177 
5. Pakistan      118  
6. South Africa   60  
7. Sri Lanka      20
8. West Indies    18
9. Bangladesh   -148    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -261   
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
12. Ireland      -338