Cricket World Ratings 30th December 2021

England are currently in free-fall, three-nil down after three tests of their five match series in Australia.  India, meanwhile, have proven it is possible to win away from home, defeating South Africa in the first test of their three match series.  My world ratings nwo look like this:

1. India         285 +15  
   
2. New Zealand   248 
   
3. Australia     213  +9
4. Pakistan      131 
5. England       104 -10
6. South Africa   89 -15  
   
7. Sri Lanka      45 
8. West Indies   -45   
   
9. Bangladesh   -149    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339  

In addition to the continuation of the two current series, Bangladesh will travel to New Zealand for a one-off match in the new year.

Cricket World Ratings 20th December 2021

England have had a tough year, playing India away then at home, New Zealand at home, and now Australia away.  Those countries are arguably the three best teams in the world right now; one thing this schedule has clearly demonstrated is that England just aren't as good, and they've been racking up lots of defeats.  In their latest series, they're now 2-0 down with three to play, needing to win the series to regain the Ashes.  It would take a brave man to bet on this happening.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. India         270  
   
2. New Zealand   248 
   
3. Australia     202  +12
4. Pakistan      131 
5. England       114  -12
6. South Africa  104  
   
7. Sri Lanka      45 
8. West Indies   -45   
   
9. Bangladesh   -149    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339  

And based on their showing so far, England will fear there are more defeats to come.

Cricket World Ratings 11th December 2021

The summer cricket season ended suddenly, with India withdrawing from their last scheduled game against England, due to COVID threat.  But after an interval, there's been quite a lot of test cricket in the last few weeks.  Sri Lanka won both games in a two-match home series against the West Indies; New Zealand drew, then lost, on tour in India; Pakistan won a couple of games in Bangladesh; and Australia begun their home defence of the ashes with a win.  The effect on my world ratings is as follows:

1. India         270  +10
   
2. New Zealand   248  -12
   
3. Australia     190  +13
   
4. Pakistan      131  +19
5. England       126  -14
   
6. South Africa  104  
   
7. Sri Lanka      45  +25
8. West Indies   -45  -25 
   
9. Bangladesh   -149    
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303  -20
    
12. Ireland      -339   -1
    

So India regain top place, and a misfiring England drop below Pakistan.  The official ratings currently look like this:

1. India         124 +5
2. New Zealand   121 -5
   
3. Australia     108
4. England       107 
5. Pakistan       93 +1
   
6. South Africa   88 
7. Sri Lanka      83 +5
   
8. West Indies    75 -5
9. Bangladesh     47 -2 
   
10. Zimbabwe       31  

So they also show India back in the lead, although as yet England still feature in a relatively strong fourth. Otherwise, the orders are in agreement.  England now have four more games to redeem themselves against the Aussies; India have a potentially testing tour to South Africa starting later in the month.