Australia becomes the number 1 ranked Test and T20I side

In the latest ICC annual rankings announced on Friday, Australian Cricket has become the number 1 ranked Test and T20I side in the world. The Indian Cricket Team is currently at number 1 in the ICC Test championship points table with 360 points while Australia at number 2 which is not being held due to Coronavirus pandemic.

As per rules, the 2016-17 record was eliminated. The results of the 2017/18 season and 2018/19, 50% matches were taken into the account. From 2019 May onwards, 100% matches were taken into the account.

During the 2016/17 period, Australia lost to South Africa as well as in India. From May 2017 to April 2019, Australia won a series against England, Sri Lanka at home. After that, they drew the series against Bangladesh and lost series against South Africa, India, and Pakistan. From May 2019 onwards, the Australian team won 2 matches in the 2019 Ashes against England in August, cruised to comfortable wins over Pakistan and New Zealand during the home season.

New Zealand jumps to the 2^nd position as they whitewashed India by 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series.

The Indian Cricket Team has dropped to number 3 in the rankings. In the 2016/17 period, they won 12 Tests and lost just 1 match which includes wins over Australia, England, and New Zealand. From May 2017 to April 2019, the Indian team won the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. They then defeated Afghanistan. Under the captaincy of Kohli, the Indian team won their maiden Test series on Australian soil defeating them 2-1. They lost the away series against South Africa and England.

From May 2019 onwards, India registered wins over West Indies in their home den and whitewashed South Africa, Bangladesh at home which yielded 100 percent result. After that, India lost the Test series against New Zealand in New Zealand by 0-2.

After October 2016, the Indian Cricket Team was dethroned from the number 1 rankings in Test matches. Australia will be looking to consolidate its lead in 4 match Test series against India that is scheduled to take place later this year.

England remained at number 4 position while Sri Lanka is at number 5^th position. South Africa suffered a big setback as they slipped down to number 6. During the 2016/17 period, they had won three series while lost nine series since February 2019 which include series against Sri Lanka, India, and England.

Pakistan gained one place up to number 7^th. West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe complete the top 10 rankings.

Latest ICC Test rankings

1. Australia- 116
2. New Zealand-115
3. India-114
4. England-105
5. Sri Lanka-91
6. South Africa-90
7. Pakistan-86
8. West Indies-79
9. Bangladesh-55
10. Zimbabwe-18

Australia became the number 1 ranked T20I side for the first time since the rankings were introduced in 2011. They have shown tremendous promise in the shorter format with great wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the home season. Australia defeated South Africa by 2-1 in their home den. With the World T20 coming up, Aaron Finch’s side would be looking to win their maiden title.

England has moved into the 2^nd place in the rankings. They defeated West Indies, New Zealand in their own den last year. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, India moved one place up to number 3^rd. They defeated West Indies in their home den, drew the series against South Africa, won series against Bangladesh, West Indies at home, and then whitewashed New Zealand 5-0 in their home den.

Pakistan who became the number 1 ranked T20I side overtook New Zealand in January 2018 and then spent 27 months, slipped down to number 4^th. They were whitewashed by Sri Lanka, Australia which is not a great result. Apart from the series against Bangladesh, Pakistan could not perform according to the expectations.

South Africa is at number 5^th position. From May 2019 onwards, they lost the series against England and Australia at home. New Zealand slips down to number 6^th in the rankings. Before this series, they won the series against Sri Lanka in their own den by 2-1. They lost the series against England by 2-3 and then were whitewashed by India at home.

Sri Lanka is at number 7^th in the team rankings. They lost the T20I series against New Zealand by 1-2, whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 at their home den.

Both Bangladesh and West Indies are on 229 points but due to decimal points, Bangladesh is at number 8^th. Bangladesh did a decent by reaching the finals of the Tri-series which included Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. They lost the T20I series against India by 1-2.

The defending Champions West Indies slipped down to number 9^th in the T20I rankings. They lost the T20I series against West Indies against Afghanistan by 1-2 at Dehradun and then gave a tough fight to India before losing the series by 1-2. Afghanistan slips down to number 10th in the rankings.

Latest ICC T20I team rankings

1. Australia- 278
2. England-268
3. India-266
4. Pakistan-260
5. South Africa-258
6. New Zealand-242
7. Sri Lanka-230
8. Bangladesh-229
9. West Indies-229
10. Afghanistan-228

In the latest ODI rankings, England remained at number 1 position and increased its lead from 6 to 8 points.

The Australian are dominating the rankings as Steve Smith is the number 1 ranked Test batsman while Pat Cummins number 1 Test bowler.