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In mid 2005, Australia landed in England holding the highest rating by any nation at that time of 1252 points.� Australia was expected to leave England with the Ashes and a comfortable victory.
However, Australia instead left England shell-shocked, without the Ashes and having lost the series 2-1 with two draws.� Australia's rating plummeted back to 1232 points.
It is to Australia's credit that they have since turned around so quickly.� Australia first saw off a sub-standard World XI in a one-off Test.� Australia then defeated an even more sub-standard West Indies in a three Test whitewash.� Australia went on to defeat South Africa 5-0 over two home and away Test series.�
An under-prepared Australia then escaped Bangladesh with a two Test whitewash. Australia had played three Tests in South Africa in 19 days and then flown to Bangladesh to play two back to cack Test only five days later.�
Although Bangladesh is the worst Test team in the world, Australia made a dreadful start to the first Test. �Australia was clearly lacking enough rest after a tough South African encounter.� However, Australia's recovery in that Test shows why they are the number one Test nation in the world.
The second Test in Bangladesh more clearly showed the difference between the two sides.� Jason Gillespie's 201 not out, batting at number three as a nightwatchman speaks volumes.
The net result of these series is that Australia has lifted its rating to 1266 points, which is a new benchmark highest rating by any nation in history.
In analysing Australia's twelve Tests played since the Ashes series, the six Tests involving the World XI, West Indies and Bangladesh should be largely ignored.� Despite the stars in the World XI, they did not combine effectively as a team.� The West Indies and Bangladesh are simply not remotely competitive with Australia.
South Africa, however, remain the third best Test team in the world at this time.� Australia largely dominated South Africa in these two series, with the exception of the Test in Sydney, where a generous declaration allowed Australia to get out of gaol.
From a longer-term perspective, South African appears to be trending back to the pack of nations in the ratings mid field.� Since September 2003, when South Africa set its highest rating in history, South Africa has gradually lost 61 rating points.�
South Africa held a healthy second place in the ratings during early 2000 to late 2003.� Since then, South Africa has since fallen into third place as England overtook them.� South Africa's lead over fourth placed Pakistan is now only nine points.� Fifth placed India is only a further four points back.
The following summary put Australia's record highest rating into better context.� In the 129 years since the first Test in Melbourne between England and the Australian colonies, there have only been four teams to hold a rating above 1200 points:
*� Australia, under Lindsay Hassett, maintained a rating over 1200 points from March 1950 to January 1952 (1.9 years) over three Test series, peaking at 1217 points;
*� Australia, under Ritchie Benaud, reached 1202 points in December 1959, but then dropped back below 1200 points in their next Test series;
*� West Indies, under (Sir) Vivian Richards, maintained a rating over 1200 points from August 1984 to January 1988 (3.4 years, involving seven Test series) and then from August 1988 to April 1990 (1.7 years, involving four Test series).� In between these periods, there was one drawn home series against Pakistan in April 1988 that drew the rating below 1200 points.� The West Indies set a benchmark highest rating of 1236 points in April 1986.
*� Australia, under Stephen Waugh and Ricky Ponting, broke past 1200 points in August 2001 and are yet to drop back (currently 4.6 years).� Under Waugh, Australia set a new benchmark highest rating of 1241 points.� Under Ponting, Australia has now set a highest rating of 1266 points.� In total, Australia has played 20 Test series while maintaining a rating above 1200 points.
Australia next faces England in a five Test Ashes series starting on 23 November at Brisbane.� England remains the only nation to have defeated Australia in a Test series since India in 2001.� That Ashes series will be the best measure of Australia's ongoing resilience and a resurgent England's capacity to move to the top of the rankings anytime soon.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1266); 2. England (1135); 3. South Africa (1104); 4. Pakistan (1095); 5. India (1091); 6. New Zealand (1046); 7. Sri Lanka (1041); 8. West Indies (939); 9. Zimbabwe (849); 10. Bangladesh (775).
