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Over the last five years, Australia has swept all opponents before them.� The Australians have won Test series against every nation both at home and on tour.� Australia has set a record of 16 consecutive Test victories and has now set a record for five consecutive Test series victories.� Since October 1999, the Australian rating has risen from a low point of 1124 points to the current record of 1250 points.�
The Australians have utterly dominated their era in a way that few teams have beforehand.� The modern Australians have a substantial claim to be recognised as the best team in history.
Throughout the almost 128 year history of Test cricket, there has been only two other teams, each in their own separate eras, that have stood head and shoulders above all other opponents.� These are the only other teams to have maintained a rating above 1200 points.� As such, they are the modern Australian's peer group at the top of Test cricket and the benchmark for comparison and assessment.
Lindsay Hassett led Australia over 1200 points in 1950.� Hassett's team went on to set a record rating of 1217 points in January 1952 and kept their rating above 1200 points for almost two years.� During that time, they played three Test series that involved 15 Tests before dropping back below 1200 points.� The average rating of all nations at that time was 1038 points and Hassett's team rating was 117 per cent higher than the average rating.
Clive Lloyd led the West Indians over 1200 points in August 1984 before (Sir) Vivian Richards took over and went on to set a new record rating of 1236 points in April 1986.� The West Indians remained above 1200 points for five years and eight months.� They played twelve Test series involving 49 Tests before dropping back below 1200 points.� The average rating of all nations at that time was 1048 points and Richards' West Indians rating was 118 per cent higher than the average rating at their peak.
Stephen Waugh led Australia over 1200 points in August 2001.� Under Waugh's leadership, Australia peaked at 1241 points before Ponting took over and led them to their current record high of 1250 points.� Australia has played 14 Test series, involving 48 Tests over a period of three years and three months.� The average rating of all nations is currently 1034 points and Australia's rating is 121 per cent higher than the average ratings.
The rating of each team is an indicator of their relative strength against their contemporary opponents.� Comparisons across eras are always controversial.� For example, there are more teams playing now that at any pervious time.� There are therefore more ratings points available for the current Australians to gather.�
What can be drawn from this comparison is that the modern Australians have:
* played more series than the other nations without falling back below 1200 points;
* lifted their own rating, as a percentage of the average rating of all teams, higher than Richards or
Hassett;
* set a record highest rating that is a similar sized increase as Richards achieved over Hassett; and
* put themselves in a position to keep their rating above 1200 points for longer than Richards' team was
able to achieve.
Australia can increase their record rating if they concede no more than one draw during their upcoming three Test tour of New Zealand in March.� Another series whitewash would see Australia lift its rating to 1259 points.� However, even at its current level, Australia's benchmark rating of 1250 points is likely to take decades for any other nation to better.
Hassett, Richards and Ponting have each been the beneficiaries of a valuable inheritance from their former captains.� (Sir) Donald Bradman and Clive Lloyd had each taken their teams to record levels that were eclipsed by their successors.� Stephen Waugh's name has now been added to that list.� Hassett added 18 points to Bradman's highest rating of 1199 points.� Richards added 33 points to Lloyd's highest rating of 1203 points, while Ponting has so far added nine points to Waugh's highest rating.
Australia's nearest rivals are currently second placed South Africa and third placed England.� Each nation is separated by only one rating point and they are currently battling in a five Test series in South Africa.� Australia has now opened a very comfortable 124-point lead over these two nations.�
As noted previously, ratings are an indicator of the comparative strength of each nation.� To put Australia's lead over South Africa and England into perspective, the size of their lead is similar to the advantage New Zealand currently holds over Bangladesh.� New Zealand recently defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 100 runs in both of their Tests.� Keep that in mind while the next Ashes series in England in mid 2005 is hyped up.
Pakistan's rating has now dropped to 1063 points.� That is their lowest rating since July 2003.� Pakistan remains in fifth place in the ratings after India recently overtook Pakistan in December 2004.� Pakistan has now dropped 15 rating points behind India and has a 17-point lead over sixth placed Sri Lanka.
�
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1250); 2. South Africa (1126); 3. England (1125); 4. India (1078); 5. Pakistan (1063) ; 6. Sri Lanka (1045); 7. New Zealand (1021); 8. West Indies (967); 9. Zimbabwe (881); 10. Bangladesh (782).
