Australia have started their two match series in Sri Lanka with a good win, further strengtheing their grip on top of my cricket world ratings:
The second game follows shortly, alongside a one-off game in which Zimbabwe will host Ireland.
The West Indies have had a rather barren time of things lately; but have just drawn a series in Pakistan, winning the 2nd test of their series having lost the first. The effect on my ratings is to bring to two teams somewhat closer together than they were:
This table has clearly incorporated Afghanistan's recent win in Zimbabwe, but one of the reasons I prefer my system is that team's ratings do not change when they haven't been playing. However, the pecking order is almost identical in both lists, only the relative positions of England and India now being in dispute.
In two days time, Australia begin the first of two tests to be played in Sri Lanka.
The West Indies are currently in Pakistan, playing a two test series; but they have already been beaten in the first game, a very low scoring affair. The effect on my ratings is relatively small:
The series ends next week, when Australia begin another two match tour, in their case to Sri Lanka.
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:
2024's test calendar has ended with Australia going one-up with one to play in their series against India; South Africa shaving a home win in their first game against Pakistan; and Zimbabwe playing out a high-scoring (and rather boring draw) against their visitors Afghanistan. My world ratings now look like this:
Broadly speaking, not much has changed over the course of the year. England, down 53, are the biggest losers; and Ireland, who won two test matches, the biggest gainers; but the overall pecking order has not changed by that much. The 2025 season begins in just a few days, with the next (and final) game in all three current series.
England won their first two tests of their current tour of New Zealand; the hosts, however, won big in the final game, although the series was already lost. Meanwhile, bad weather consiged the third of the five game series between Australia and India to a draw; with the series poised at one-all, this one could still go either way. My world ratings now look like this:
Two visiting teams recently started series with wins, England winning their first game in New Zealand, and India seeing off Australia. But Australia have now levelled their series (with three games still to go), while England have secured their three game affair by also winning the second test. In fact, the top six teams in world cricket have all been in action this past week, with South Africa winning a one-off test at home against Sri Lanka. My ratings now look as follows:
