From 1877 until World War One
Between the World Wars
Post War to the WSC Revolution
The Professional Era to the New Millennium
The New Millennium and Beyond
Other Pages
Home Page
Article Archive
How the System Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Statistical Points of Interest
Current and Future Series Predictions
Links
Site Map
Information for Visiting Webmasters
Contact Us
Get Free e-mail ratings updates
The current Australians started their series against Pakistan just one rating point below Lindsay Hassett's team from 1952.� Hassett's team held the international record from 1952 until (Sir) Vivian Richards' team recorded a new record rating of 1236 points in April 1986.�
Waugh's Australians shot to 1230 points and claimed the Australian record after demolishing an under-strength Pakistan side by claiming all three Tests.
The modern Australians also now hold the second highest rating by any nation - six points short of the record set by Richards' team in 1986.� The Ashes series against fourth placed England, which starts on 7 November in Brisbane, will give the Australians the chance to put their names in the record books and claim the number one position in history.
However, the task will not be an easy one for Australia.� The Australians are well in front of the English with a lead of 171 ratings points.� To put this in proportion, England is only 148 points above Zimbabwe, the second lowest ranked nation.
The sizable difference between Australia and England means that Australia must win four out of the five Ashes tests just to draw level with Richards' West Indians on 1236.� To pass the 1984 West Indians, Australia cannot afford to concede more than one draw.
The Australians under Waugh have lifted their rating by 106 points from a low of 1124 points after the loss in Sri Lanka in 1999.� Make no mistake, this team is a once in a generation occurrence.
The three standout teams that have dominated Test history have occurred in 1952, 1986 and 2002.� The three occasions since 1877 and all separated by 14 years or more with the first two occasions being ended in a sharp ratings fall.� Remarkably, Stephen Waugh suffered at the hands of the West Indians during the second period of domination only to lead the third.
How long the Australians can remain so far ahead of the remaining Test nations is still a matter for conjecture.� The West Indians managed to hold first place for 13 years.� However, the West Indians held a rating above 1200 points for only six of those years.
Australia has been ranked first for all but one year since 1996.� The South Africans briefly interrupted the Australian reign after they demolished the West Indies 5-0 in the series in 1998-99 that started the West Indian ratings free fall.� Australia has held a rating above 1200 points for just over one year.
Australian cricket fans could look forward to a few more years of success before their team starts the inevitable slide.� The looming retirement of the Waugh twins would be likely to slow them down, but Australia is more likely to continue their winning ways while McGrath and Warne remain in the team.
The rest of the cricket world may have to hold their breaths a little longer before they can claim their revenge.
The series loss has resulted in a Pakistani fall from grace.� Pakistan?s rating has slumped to 1065 points and their lead over fourth placed England stands at just six points.� Pakistan?s next series against Zimbabwe provides the chance to bolster their position.
To be fair to Pakistan, they were only able to field a second strength team.� Before the series began, Pakistan had to do without Inzamam-ul-Haq (heel) and Yousuf Youhana (shoulder) due to injury.� Later, Saeed Anwar further weakened the batting line up by withdrawing while Wasim Akram announced his unavailability for the series.� Pakistan was suddenly short of 279 Tests worth of experience.� Finally, during the series, Pakistan lost Razzaq (broken wrist) and Akhtar (leg).
The question remains, however, if Pakistan had been playing a lesser nation, would all of those players have been unavailable?
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1230); 2. South Africa (1133); 3. Pakistan (1065); 4. England (1059); 5. Sri Lanka (1041); 6. India (1032); 7. New Zealand (1025); 8. West Indies (1009); 9. Zimbabwe (911); 10. Bangladesh (831).
