Cricket World Ratings 20th March 2023

 

New Zealand have just won the second test against Sri Lanka, completing a 2-0 series win.  My world rankings now look like this:

1. Australia     239
   
2. India         222   
3. England       222  
4. South Africa  163    
5. New Zealand   154 +10
   
6. Pakistan       53 
7. Sri Lanka      40 -10 
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -155          
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

The offical ratings have changed similarly, although with characteristic asymmetry:

1. Australia     122  
   
2. India         119 
3. England       106
4. South Africa  104
5. New Zealand   103 +1
6. Pakistan       88
7. Sri Lanka      84 -4
   
8. West Indies    76 
   
9. Bangladesh     46 
10. Afghanistan    40 
11. Zimbabwe       27
    
12. Ireland         0  

In early April, Ireland get a chance to lift themselves off the bottom, when they play a single test in Bangladesh.

Cricket World Ratings 13th March 2023

India's series against Australia has ended in a 2-1 home win, after the final match was drawn. Meanwhile, two travelling teams have just lost: West Indies in South Africa, and Sri Lanka in New Zealand, the former in a one-off test, the latter in the first game of a two match series.  My world rankings now look like this:

1. Australia     239  +5
   
2. India         222  -5 
3. England       222  
4. South Africa  163  +6  
5. New Zealand   144 +12
   
6. Pakistan       53 
7. Sri Lanka      50 -12 
8. West Indies   -20  -7    
   
9. Bangladesh   -155          
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

So the top three are currently extremely close, but Austrlia go back to the number one spot. Next week, the series in India and South Africa continue, while New Zealand face new visitors in the form of Sri Lanka.  The offical ratings have also been updated:

1. Australia     122 -4 
   
2. India         119 +4 
3. England       106 -1 
4. South Africa  104 +2
5. New Zealand   102 +2
6. Pakistan       88
7. Sri Lanka      88
8. West Indies    76 -2
   
9. Bangladesh     46 
10. Afghanistan    40 
11. Zimbabwe       27
    
12. Ireland         0  

This is the first time I have seen an official ratings list with all 12 teams in it; most interesting is that relative newcomers Afghanistan rate above Zimbabwe, which they don't in my list, although otherwise the pecking orders match.

The second test in New Zealand starts next week.

 

Cricket World Ratings 4th March 2023

 

England's tremendous record of recent run chases has just come to an end, but in very exciting fashion.  They fell short in their second test against New Zealand by just one run, in a remarkable game in which their hosts had earlier followed on.  Meanwhile, Australia have equalised in their series in India, while South Africa have seen off  the West Indies in the first of their games.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     234 +30
   
2. India         227 -31 
3. England       222 -26 
4. South Africa  157  +8  
5. New Zealand   132 +26
   
6. Sri Lanka      62
7. Pakistan       53      
8. West Indies   -13  -7    
   
9. Bangladesh   -155          
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

So the top three are currently extremely close, but Austrlia go back to the number one spot. Next week, the series in India and South Africa continue, while New Zealand face new visitors in the form of Sri Lanka.