Cricket World Ratings 12th June 2023

The idea of the world test championship is that results over a two year period are used to determine the two best test match playing teams; and then they play off in a one-off game.  Of course, it isn't my ratings which are used to select the finalists, but in both events played to date, the two teams selected were my top two; and on both occasions one team was India, who have however lost each time.  A one-off match in English conditions isn't the easiest challenge for the Indians; this time, the victors were Australia, who will now go on to defend the Ashes against an English side who, in my ratings, have now overtaken India following this defeat.  My ratings thus look like this:

1. Australia     254 +15   
2. England       222 
3. India         207 -15 
4. South Africa  163    
5. New Zealand   154
   
6. Pakistan       53 
7. Sri Lanka      43 
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -149           
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -349

The Ashes start in just a few days, but there's another match that gets underway first, with Afghanistan travelling to Bangladesh.