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June 27, 1997
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Windies, India move up in Test rankings
The Wisden monthly rankings of Test-playing nations is interesting if only because it offers a preview of the proposed world championship of Test cricket - a proposal that is high on the agenda of the recently reconstituted International Cricket Council.
There is, however, one very essential difference between the existing rankings, and the proposed world championship. As exists, the rankings are based on the Tests actually played - however, it is up to the individual countries to decide when they will play, against whom, and how many Tests.
The proposed world Test championship, however, envisages a situation where, over a period of four years, each of the nine Test playing nations will face the others, both at home and away, in full series. At the end of the four-year period, the results will be tabulated, and the teams ranked in order of success ratio.
For now, however, what we have is the Wisden rankings based on current tours and results. And the latest rankings indicate that the West Indies, thanks to a 1-0 win in the just concluded two-Test series against Sri Lanka, have moved ahead of South Africa, and into second place behind leaders Australia.
It was the Australians who, in 1995, ended the Windies' decade-long domination of the Test cricket scene when they beat the Windies at home in a full series.
Today, the West Indies are back, to within just three points of table leaders Australia. Interestingly, Sri Lanka has dropped to seventh place following the result of their short tour of the Caribbean. And Sri Lanka's loss has, indirectly, been India's gain as it moved up to number four in the rankings ladder.
The rankings system, coutesy Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, is likely to be adopted officially at the end of
the year. Last week, the ICC gave its nod, in principle, to such a championship.
Rankings are updated on the basis of the most recent meetings, at home and away, between the various teams. Each team gets two points for winning a series or a one-off Test, and one for drawing. And rankings depends on the difference between the number of Tests played, and the points totted up.
Latest standings (tabulated under played, points, and points difference):
Australia14 22 +8
West Indies 13 18 +5
South Africa12 16 +4
India 14 17 +3
Pakistan12 13 +1
England14 11 -3
Sri Lanka15 11 -4
Zimbabwe10 4 -6
New Zealand 16 8 -8
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