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.