Cricket World Ratings 7th January 2025

Australia lost their first test at home to India last year; but have since recovered to win the series 3-1.  South Africa have just beaten their visitors Pakistan 2-0.  And Afghanistan have just won their first game since 2021, winning their second game in Zimbabwe after drawing the first, and thereby also winning their first ever series of more than one game.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     271 +23
2. South Africa  197 +16
3. England       171
4. India         167 -23
5. New Zealand   148 
6. Sri Lanka      73
   
7. Pakistan       33 -16
8. West Indies   -39  
   
9. Bangladesh    -81  
   
10. Ireland      -300   
11. Afghanistan  -306 +37       
    
12. Zimbabwe     -333 -37

Australia sit dominantly on top of the pile. India, who recently lost at home to New Zealand, have rarely rated so low, while both of test crickets two recent newcomers, Ireland and Afghanistan, now rate above Zimbabwe. In the official ratings, the order is now as follows (possibly the results from Zimbabwe are not yet incorporated; also note the way that the ratings are calculated can see rankings change when teams aren't playing, as older matches get removed from consideration):

1. Australia     126  +2  
2. South Africa  112  +3
3. India         109  -2 
   
4. England       106  +1
   
5. New Zealand    96  -1  
6. Sri Lanka      87 -10 
7. Pakistan       83  -3
8. West Indies    75   
9. Bangladesh     65        
10. Ireland        26  
11. Zimbabwe        4 
12. Afghanistan     0
    

The next series to start will see the West Indies visit Pakistan.