Cricket World Ratings 30th December 2022

 Three tests were played over the Christmas period.  India completed a 2-0 away win in Bangladesh (although the results in game two was close); Australia drubbed South Africa again, and visitors New Zealand drew against their hosts Pakistan).  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     247  +11
2. England       229 
3. India         227   +6
   
4. South Africa  137  -11
5. New Zealand   125  
6. Sri Lanka      62
7. Pakistan       53      
8. West Indies    -3    
   
9. Bangladesh   -155   -5        
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

Interestingly, New Zealand's prior lead of 72 points over Pakistan almost exactly balanaces Pakistan's home advantage when it came to predicting the outcome of the match: with the two sides rated equally, the actual drawer has no significant effect on either of their ratings.  Meanwhile, the official ratings now incldue the results of the series in Bangladesh, and of England's recently completed win over Pakistan:

1. Australia     130   
   
2. India         115  +1 
   
3. England       107  +4
   
4. South Africa  104 
   
5. New Zealand   100
6. Pakistan       86  -6 
7. Sri Lanka      83  
   
8. West Indies    79  
9. Bangladesh     48    
   
10. Zimbabwe       25 

There's one more match in each of the two current series to be played early in the new year.

Cricket World Ratings 20th December 2022

For England,wins in Pakistan has been historically rare events. Whitewashing their hosts 3-0, as they have just done, is virtually unprecedented, and England's latest triumph is all the more remarkable for the relative paucity of their spin attack.  Meanwhile, the Australians look in great shape, slaughtering the South Africans in just 2 days in the first test of their new series; and the Indians have won their first game in Bangladesh. My world ratings now look like this, with England now up into the top two:

1. Australia     236  +11
2. England       229  +17
3. India         222   +6
   
4. South Africa  148  -12
5. New Zealand   125  
6. Sri Lanka      62
7. Pakistan       53  -16    
8. West Indies    -3    
   
9. Bangladesh   -150   -5        
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

There is also an update to the official world ratings to report, which captures Australia's recent win over the West Indies, but not yet the results of the series in Pakistan:

1. Australia     130  +2 
   
2. India         114 
   
3. South Africa  104 
   
4. England       103   
5. New Zealand   100
6. Pakistan       92 
7. Sri Lanka      83  
   
8. West Indies    79  -1 
9. Bangladesh     48    
   
10. Zimbabwe       25 

Pakistan now have to pick themselves up against New Zealand, while the series in Australia and Bangladesh will continue over the Christmas period.

Cricket World Ratings 12th December 2022

 

Australia have just completed a 2-0 drubbing of the West Indies; perhaps more remarkable is England's acheivement, winning a second consecutive test in Pakistan. It moves them into a very strong third place in my world ratings, not far behind the top two: 

1. Australia     225  +6  
   
2. India         217
3. England       212 +19
4. South Africa  160
5. New Zealand   125  
6. Pakistan       69 -20
7. Sri Lanka      62    
8. West Indies    -3  -5   
   
9. Bangladesh   -145        
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

Next week, Pakistan get a chance for a shot at revenge (and the latest test was close enough to make that a real possibility; South Africa are Australia's next visitors; while India travel to Bangladesh.

Cricket World Ratings 5th December 2022

 After a few months off, test cricket is back. Australia have thumped their latest visitors (the West Indies), while England have won a test in Pakistan in spite of a very flat wicket, thanks mostly due to an extraordinarily aggressive approach to batting.  This attitude brought the team several wins while chasing over the summer at home, but to force a win batting first in Pakistan is arguably a greater achievement. In my world ratings, Australia's win is enough to put them into first place, a postion they already held in the official world ratings:  

1. Australia     219  +5   
2. India         217
3. England       193 +23
4. South Africa  160
5. New Zealand   125  
6. Pakistan       89 -22
7. Sri Lanka      62    
8. West Indies     2  -6   
   
9. Bangladesh   -145        
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

A second test in both series commences at the end of the week.