Cricket World Ratings 5th July 2022

England's recent revival has now delivered it's fourth, and most surprising, victory.  In an extra test against India (technically the last test of last year's series, which was postponed due to COVID-19), England have pulled off their fourth consecutive, and historically largest, run chase, again at a very rapid rate of scoring.  Meanwhile, Australia have won the first of their two scheduled matches in Sri Lanka.  My world ratings now look like this, with Australia going top: 

1. Australia     245 +13
   
2. India         217 -24
   
3. South Africa  173 
   
4. England       157 +24
5. New Zealand   125
   
6. Pakistan      111  
7. Sri Lanka      31 -13   
8. West Indies     8   
   
9. Bangladesh   -145        
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

Australia's latest win hasn't been counted yet in the official ratings (which are only updated at the end of series), but the team were already on top, and the two pecking orders are now in perfect alignment:

1. Australia     128 
   
2. India         114  -5
   
3. South Africa  110
4. England       100  +3
5. New Zealand   100
6. Pakistan       93
7. Sri Lanka      82 
   
8. West Indies    67 
9. Bangladesh     48    
   
10. Zimbabwe       25 

Sri Lanka get another crack at Australia, then they will host Pakistan; subsequently, South Africa will play three tests at the end of the English summer.

Cricket World Ratings 28th June 2022

After a dreadful run, England have just walloped New Zealand in three straight tests.  In all matches the visitors put up a credible performance; but when the ball stopped moving, England simply smashed it out the park.  At times it didn't feel much like test cricket, but you couldn't say the approach didn't work.  Meanwhile, Bangladesh have gone to the West Indies, but lost both matches they played there.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
3. South Africa  173 
   
4. England       133 +18 
5. New Zealand   125 -18
   
6. Pakistan      111  
7. Sri Lanka      44   
8. West Indies     8 +17  
   
9. Bangladesh   -145 -17       
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

The official ratings look like this.  The decline in the West Indies ratings is something I can't explain; did I copy down the wrong number when I last assembled the list?

1. Australia     128 
   
2. India         119
3. South Africa  110
4. New Zealand   100 -11
5. England        97  +9
6. Pakistan       93
7. Sri Lanka      82 
   
8. West Indies    67 -10 
9. Bangladesh     48  -3  
   
10. Zimbabwe       25 

Australia play in Sri Lanka early next month.

Cricket World Ratings 14th June 2022

 After a dreadful run, England are actually having some fun this summer, having beaten New Zealand two matches in a row by turning on the style in the final innings.  In the 2nd test, they came back having conceded over 500 first innings runs, powering to victory with some rampant hitting on a flat pitch.  There's still one match to play, but the series is England's, and my world ratings now look like this (a third win and England would overtake their visitors):

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
3. South Africa  173
4. New Zealand   143 -21 
5. England       115 +21 
6. Pakistan      111  
7. Sri Lanka      44   
8. West Indies    -9   
   
9. Bangladesh   -128       
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339

Cricket World Ratings 5th June 2022

 

After a dreadful run (11 defeats and just one victory in 17 matches) England have finally won a test, a topsy-turvey home game against New Zealand which cleared up none of their selection dilemmas but did amount to a hurrah for their old guard, with Root, Stokes, Anderson and Broad all contributing to the victory.  My cricket world ratings now look like this:

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
3. South Africa  173
4. New Zealand   164 -25   
   
5. Pakistan      111  
6. England        94 +25 
   
7. Sri Lanka      44   
8. West Indies    -9   
   
9. Bangladesh   -128       
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339
    

England actually hosted New Zealand twice last year, this time it's a three match series, and it's still very much game on.  The next match starts on Friday.

Cricket World Ratings 27th May 2022

 

Sri Lanka were held to a draw in the first match of their tour of Bangladesh, but have now won the second game, concluding the series 1-0.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
   
3. New Zealand   189 
4. South Africa  173   
   
5. Pakistan      111  
6. England        69 
   
7. Sri Lanka      44  +17  
8. West Indies    -9   
   
9. Bangladesh   -128  -17      
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339
    

The official ratings have changed rather more.  The system which is used to calculate them gets an annual revision in terms of which matches get counted, and with the latest changes, Australia go clearly top and England, who have had a bad time of things recently, give up a lot of ground:

1. Australia     128 +9
   
2. India         119 +1
3. New Zealand   111 -4
   
4. South Africa  110 +8
   
5. Pakistan       93
6. England        88 -9
7. Sri Lanka      82 +1
   
8. West Indies    77 +4 
9. Bangladesh     51  
   
10. Zimbabwe       25 -6

England will try to get back on track next week when they entertain a strong New Zealand side, who also toured last year, and who will be looking to repeat their victory over their hosts.

Cricket World Ratings 19th May 2022

The first test in Sri Lanka's tour of Bangldesh has ended in a boring draw, with the home side getting the better of the game, without getting close to winning.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
   
3. New Zealand   189 
4. South Africa  173   
   
5. Pakistan      111  
6. England        69 
   
7. Sri Lanka      27  -6  
8. West Indies    -9   
   
9. Bangladesh   -111  +6      
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339 
    

The second, and final, test begins on Monday.

Cricket World Ratings 11th April 2022

 

South Africa have just completed an easy win over Bangladesh, winning both test in a two test home series. These results were more or less as predicted, and make little difference to my test world ratings:

1. India         241 
   
2. Australia     232 
   
3. New Zealand   189 
4. South Africa  173  +7 
   
5. Pakistan      111  
6. England        69 
   
7. Sri Lanka      33  
8. West Indies    -9   
   
9. Bangladesh   -117  -7      
   
10. Zimbabwe     -280    
    
11. Afghanistan  -303 
    
12. Ireland      -339 
    

The official ratings are likewise little changed:

1. Australia     119
   
2. India         118
3. New Zealand   115
4. South Africa  102 +1
5. England        97
6. Pakistan       93 
7. Sri Lanka      81 
   
8. West Indies    81 
9. Bangladesh     51 -2  
   
10. Zimbabwe       31

But there's no more test cricket scheduled for a month, when Bangladesh will be in action again, this time at home against Sri Lanka.