Cricket World Ratings 27th December 2025

Amazingly, a second test match in the current Ashes series has ended within 2 days. Even more amazingly, this one has resulted in a rare win for England, who consistently stuggle down under even when competitive elsewhere, although this win comes with the series already lost.  This unexpected result has a non-trivial effect on my rankings, as follows:

1. Australia     273 -37  
2. South Africa  262 
3. England       158 +37
4. India         156    
5. New Zealand   150     
6. Sri Lanka      42
7. Pakistan       28      
8. West Indies   -46      
   
9. Bangladesh    -96      
   
10. Ireland      -289 
11. Zimbabwe     -315 
12. Afghanistan  -324  

Even losing 3-1, England's results have exceeded expetations to date, which indicates quite how dominant Australia currently are. One more test remains to be played in this series, after which there are almost five months without any scheduled tests.

 

Cricket World Ratings 24th December 2025

New Zealand have just completed a 2-0 series victory over the West Indies.  Which leaves us with just one test matchr emaining this year: Australia's celebrated Boxing Day test, this year part of an Ashes series.  But also this year, defanged by Australia's 3-0 lead before the game starts, the decisive third win recently added to the other two  My ratings currently look like this:

1. Australia     310  +7  
2. South Africa  262  
3. India         156    
4. New Zealand   150  +6   
5. England       121  -7   
6. Sri Lanka      42
7. Pakistan       28      
8. West Indies   -46  -6    
   
9. Bangladesh    -96      
   
10. Ireland      -289 
11. Zimbabwe     -315 
12. Afghanistan  -324  

Taking into account the now completed series in New Zealand, the ICC rankings look like this:

1. Australia     124 
2. South Africa  116  
3. England       112   
4. India         104       
5. New Zealand    98  +2        
6. Sri Lanka      88    
7. Pakistan       82      
8. West Indies    69  -1         
9. Bangladesh     63              
10. Ireland        23  
11. Zimbabwe       12   
12. Afghanistan    10      
    

Can England at least regain some pride in Melbourne?  

Cricket World Ratings 13th December 2025

West Indies managed to draw the first game of their three match series in New Zealand; but have now loas the second.  The difference between the two team's ratings at the start of the series was such that even now West Indies are still better off than they were at the start of the series, with the latest ratings changed as follows:

1. Australia     303  
2. South Africa  262  
3. India         156    
4. New Zealand   144  +7   
5. England       128   
6. Sri Lanka      42
7. Pakistan       28      
8. West Indies   -40  -7    
   
9. Bangladesh    -96      
   
10. Ireland      -289 
11. Zimbabwe     -315 
12. Afghanistan  -324         

The series concludes with another game before Christmas, with the 3rd Ashes test taking place at the same time.

Cricket World Ratings 7th December 2025

Two test matches have recently been completed. New Zealand's game at home to the West Indies begun with a pair of low scoring innings, but ended up as a draw; while Australia have now beaten England twice, each time by eight wickets, and are thius now extremely strong favourites to retain the Ashes.  My ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     303  +7 
2. South Africa  262  
3. India         156    
4. New Zealand   137 -16   
5. England       128  -7 
6. Sri Lanka      42
7. Pakistan       28      
8. West Indies   -33 +16    
   
9. Bangladesh    -96      
   
10. Ireland      -289 
11. Zimbabwe     -315 
12. Afghanistan  -324         

The West Indies play their second test in New Zealand starting on Tuesday; the Ashes will resume after that match finishes.