ICC Team Rankings Explained: Rating System, Calculation, and Examples

The ICC Team Rankings is a rating system used to rank national cricket teams in Test, One-Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats. Developed by David Kendix, the system provides a quantitative measure of a team’s performance over time.

How It Works:

Points System:

Teams earn points for each match they play. The number of points awarded depends on the result of the match (win, loss, draw, tie) and the strength of the opposition.

Series Consideration:

In Tests and ODIs, points are often awarded for both individual match results and the overall series result.

Calculating the Rating:

The rating for each team is calculated by dividing the total points earned by the number of matches played, yielding a rating score. This score is rounded to the nearest whole number.

The formula is similar to a batting average, where the total points are analogous to total runs scored, and the total matches are analogous to the number of times dismissed.

Example of Calculating Ratings:

Let’s consider a simplified example to illustrate the process.

Test Rankings Example:

1. Australia’s Performance:
   • Assume Australia plays 10 matches over a period and earns 1240 points.
   • Rating = Total Points / Matches Played = 1240 / 10 = 124.
2. India’s Performance:
   • Assume India plays 12 matches over the same period and earns 1440 points.
   • Rating = Total Points / Matches Played = 1440 / 12 = 120.

Based on these calculations, Australia would have a rating of 124, and India would have a rating of 120.

Current Example Rankings (Men’s Teams):

Test Team Rankings:

1. Australia – 124 points
2. India – 120 points
3. England – 105 points
4. South Africa – 103 points
5. New Zealand – 96 points

ODI Team Rankings:

1. India – 122 points
2. Australia – 116 points
3. South Africa – 112 points
4. Pakistan – 106 points
5. New Zealand – 101 points

T20 Team Rankings:

1. India – 266 points
2. Australia – 256 points
3. England – 253 points
4. West Indies – 252 points
5. South Africa – 251 points

This ICC Ranking System ensures a fair and consistent measure of team performance across different formats of the game.