Cricket World Ratings 31st July 2023

Australia have retained the Ashes.  They took a 2-0 lead against England, but the hosts fought back to draw overall, and were probably denied a victory in the 4th test by rain. All 4 of the results came in close games, marked by the sharp contrast in styles between the two sides. Elsewhere, Pakistan have won twice in Sri Lanka, while West Indies lost and then drew at home to India for zero net effect on the two team's ratings.  Overall, my ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     257 -22
2. England       224 +21
3. India         202
4. South Africa  163    
5. New Zealand   154
   
6. Pakistan      101 +48
   
7. Sri Lanka      -5 -48 
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -142             
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

The official ratings look similar, only differing in the relative placement of India compared to England and Australia. Their latest update also takes into account Bangladesh's win over Afghanistan earlier in the summer for the first time:

1. India         118 -3
   
2. Australia     118 +2
3. England       115 +1
   
4. South Africa  104
5. New Zealand   100
6. Pakistan       92 +6
7. Sri Lanka      79 -5
   
8. West Indies    77 +1 
   
9. Bangladesh     46 +1
10. Zimbabwe       32

And now there's a break: with a 50 over world cup imminent, there's no more test cricket due until December.

Cricket World Ratings 9th July 2023

Before the Ashes, 15 of the previous 16 tests has ended in a victory; and only 2 of those had been won by a margin on less than 80 runs or 6 wickets. Granted, one of the exceptions was New Zealand's record breaking 1-run victory over England; but the basic fact is that a lot of test match cricket is pretty one sided. But England and Australia have now played three really close, pulsating test matches; and England's victory in game three, following two narrow defeats, keeps the series alive. My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     279 -25
2. England       203 +26
3. India         202
4. South Africa  163    
5. New Zealand   154
   
6. Pakistan       53 
7. Sri Lanka      43 
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -142             
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

The next match in this thrilling (though often tactically perplexing) series starts on the 19th July.

Cricket World Ratings 2th July 2023

 

This year's Ashes series has begun with two extraordinary matches; but also with two wins for the visting Australians, who are now already very close to retaining the trophy.  Once again, much of the focus in the 2nd test was on England's unorthodox play, which has swept all before it over the past year.  But no-one should forget that this Australian team, which won the world title before this series, is a very strong side.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     304 +20
   
2. India         202
3. England       177 -21
4. South Africa  163    
5. New Zealand   154
   
6. Pakistan       53 
7. Sri Lanka      43 
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -142             
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

There's a very compressed schedule this year: the next test begins in just 4 days time.