Test Circket Ratings 25th October 2025

South Africa lost their first game on tour in Pakistan, but have drawn the series by winning the second; while Zimbabwe have managed a home win against Afghnistan, who had overtaken them in my ratings.  Taking these two results into account, quite a few positions change in my ratings:

1. Australia     289 
2. South Africa  213 +16 
3. India         205   
4. New Zealand   153   
5. England       143 
6. Sri Lanka      42
7. Pakistan       28 -15     
8. West Indies   -49    
   
9. Bangladesh   -109     
   
10. Ireland      -275 
11. Zimbabwe     -315 +18
12. Afghanistan  -324 -18        

There are also some changes in the official ratings, but the most strking difference between these and mine remains the placement of England:

1. Australia     124    
2. England       112  
3. South Africa  111  -4 
4. India         108     
5. New Zealand    96        
6. Sri Lanka      88    
7. Pakistan       82  +4    
8. West Indies    70         
9. Bangladesh     61            
10. Ireland        30    
11. Zimbabwe       12  +4 
12. Afghanistan    10 -11     
    

Next month, South Africa play in India, while Irelans go to Bangladesh.

Cricket World Ratings 15th October 2025

Two matches in the Indian subcontinent have recently ended in home wins: India have completed a 2-0 victory over the West Indies, while more notably, Pakistan have defeated South Africa. My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     289 
2. India         205  +5 
3. South Africa  197 -32 
4. New Zealand   153   
5. England       143 
6. Pakistan       43 +31 
7. Sri Lanka      42    
8. West Indies   -49  -4    
   
9. Bangladesh   -109     
   
10. Ireland      -275   
    
11. Afghanistan  -306        
    
12. Zimbabwe     -333

The official ratings have incorporated the results of the Indian series:

1. Australia     124  
2. South Africa  115   
3. England       112    
   
4. India         108  +1   
5. New Zealand    96        
6. Sri Lanka      88    
7. Pakistan       78    
8. West Indies    70  -2       
9. Bangladesh     61  -1          
10. Ireland        30  
    
11. Afghanistan    21  
12. Zimbabwe        8      
    

South Africa have a chance to fight back next week, while Afghanistan play a one-off match in Zimbabwe.

Cricket World Ratings 5th October 2025

There is a danger that test cricket beomces something that only a handful of countries can play competitively.  India's demolition of the West Indies in the first game of their current series could be seen as a good illustration of this point. It has had relatively little effect on my world ratings, which effectively predicted this result and which now look like this:

1. Australia     289  
2. South Africa  229  
3. India         200  +4 
4. New Zealand   153   
5. England       143 
6. Sri Lanka      42   
7. Pakistan       12  
8. West Indies   -45  -5    
   
9. Bangladesh   -109     
   
10. Ireland      -275   
    
11. Afghanistan  -306        
    
12. Zimbabwe     -333    
    

West Indies will have another chance to try and upset the form book next week.