Cricket World Ratings 3rd March 2024

Australia recently lost a home test to the West Indies, a shock result.  But they've bounced back well, winning the first of two games they have to play in New Zealand.  Meanwhile, in the battle of the minnows, Ireland have just won in Afghanistan. It's their first ever test victory, and it rotates them off the bottom of the standings, which now look like this:

1. Australia     261 +21
   
2. India         238 
3. England       196
4. New Zealand   142 -21
5. South Africa  122 
6. Pakistan       81  
   
7. Sri Lanka      -2    
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277
11. Ireland      -319 +30  
11. Afghanistan  -343 -30  
    

New Zealand get a chance for revenge next week, while the final game of England's series in India (already won by the hosts) will also be played.

Cricket World Ratings 26th February 2024

It's hard for visiting teams to win in India.  England won their first game on their current tour; had a chance in their second, and were on top for most of the fourth.  But with one game still to play, the home side have secured their victory.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     240 
2. India         238 +15 
3. England       196 -16
4. New Zealand   163
5. South Africa  122 
6. Pakistan       81  
   
7. Sri Lanka      -2    
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -313   
    
12. Ireland      -349

Before the series concludes, Ireland travel to Afghanistan; and Australia begin a potentially challenging two match series in New Zealand.

Cricket World Ratings 18th February 2024

When England last toured India, they won the first test, only to go down to four successively more decisive defeats. Now playing a very different style of cricket, history may nonetheless be repeating itself: they won the first test, lost a competitive second test, and have been slaughtered in the third.  Their victory in the first game briefly saw them go top of my world ratings; but the boot is on the other foot now.  Meanwhile, New Zealand have completed a 2-0 home win against their visitors South Africa.  My world ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     240 
2. India         223 +18 
3. England       212 -17
4. New Zealand   163 +15
5. South Africa  122 -15
6. Pakistan       81  
   
7. Sri Lanka      -2    
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -313   
    
12. Ireland      -349

The fourth test in India starts next week.

Cricket World Ratings 9th February 2024

England begun their recent tour of India with a shock win; however, India has equalled the series after their second match. Two other recent games also ended in home wins: Sri Lanka defeating Afghanistan in a one-off test, and New Zealand worsting South Africa. England's brief run in first place in my world ratings has thus come to a prompt end, with the latest list as follows:

1. Australia     240  
2. England       229 -21
3. India         205 +21   
4. New Zealand   148 +18
5. South Africa  138 -18
6. Pakistan       81  
   
7. Sri Lanka      -2  +3  
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -313  -3  
    
12. Ireland      -349

The official ratings have meanwhile been adjusted to take account of West Indies drawn series in Australia:

1. Australia     117 -1
   
2. India         117
   
3. England       115
   
4. South Africa  106 
5. New Zealand    95 
6. Pakistan       89 -3
   
7. West Indies    81 +4
   
8. Sri Lanka      79 
   
9. West Indies    77  
   
10. Bangladesh     51 
11. Zimbabwe       32 
12. Afghanistan    10
13. Ireland         0
    

I'm not quite sure of the cause is of the apparent fall in Pakistan's ranking.  Next week, the series in India and New Zealand resume.

Cricket World Ratings 28th January 2024

Test cricket can seem a predictable game. The strong teams beat the weak ones; when two strong sides play, the home team are heavy favourites.  And the margins of victory are often large.  But England, touring India, have just come from behind to win the first test of their five match series, although India are near-invincible at home and had never previously lost a home game with such a large first innings lead. Even more remarkably, the unfancied West Indies defeated Australia to square their two match series.  Both games went down to the wire.  It's been a great day for demonstrating the heights that the game can reach in its longest form.

My world ratings now look like this:

1. England       250  +26
2. Australia     240  -40
3. India         184  -26
   
4. South Africa  155    
5. New Zealand   130
   
6. Pakistan       81
7. West Indies    17  +40  
   
8. Sri Lanka      -5     
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

Australia had been riding high, with a historically superb rating, but a home defeat against unfancied opposition has cost them dearly; and England have gone top.  It may not last: they also begun their last series in India in winning style, but ended it well beaten.  But they couldn't have hoped for a better beginning. On Friday, the two teams go again, white Afghanistan play a one-off match in Sri Lanka.

Cricket World Ratings 20th January 2024

 

Australia's test cricket team are currently quite dominant in world cricket; it is no surprise they have started 2024 with a big win against their latest visitors, the West Indies.

My world ratings are not much affected, though, as a team's ratings mainly alter after results that are unexpected (as predicted by the previous ratings), and there was already a large difference in ratings between the two sides. As no win is ever 100% certain, there is a small adjustment in Australia's favour as follows:

 

1. Australia     280  +3
2. England       224
3. India         210
   
4. South Africa  155    
5. New Zealand   130
   
6. Pakistan       81  
   
7. Sri Lanka      -5  
8. West Indies   -23  -3    
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

The second test starts next week, as does the first game in England's series in India.

Cricket World Ratings 6th January 2024

The new year has begun with a second successive victory for Australia over Pakistan.  But India bounced back after losing their first test against South Africa, winning the second in the shortest time (in terms of overs bowled) ever recorded.  

My world ratings now look like this:

 

1. Australia     277  +6
2. England       224
3. India         210 +27
   
4. South Africa  155 -27    
5. New Zealand   130
   
6. Pakistan       81  -6
   
7. Sri Lanka      -5  
8. West Indies   -20      
   
9. Bangladesh   -117            
   
10. Zimbabwe     -277     
    
11. Afghanistan  -310   
    
12. Ireland      -349

The official ratings now look like this:

1. Australia     118 
2. India         117 -1
   
3. England       115
   
4. South Africa  106 +2
5. New Zealand    95 
6. Pakistan       92
7. Sri Lanka      79 
   
8. West Indies    77  
   
9. Bangladesh     51 
10. Zimbabwe       32 
11. Afghanistan    10
12. Ireland         0
    

India's dramatic comeback hasn't prevented them from losing their top spot, over half a year after Australia displaced them in my ratings.  Next to try their luck in Australia are the West Indies, whose first test there starts in 10 days' time.