England's Ascension to ICC Test Ranking No.2: Unqualified for WTC Final, Yet Succeeds
England stepped up to No. 2 in the ICC men's Test annual rankings, according to performances over the last three energetic years. Matches from May 2024 onward earn full points, while matches played up to two years prior receive a 50% weightage, making room for recent performances and reducing the importance of older games. The updated rankings, taking into account games played from May 2022, coincides with the advent of the "Bazball" era in English cricket. Brendon McCullum, the current Test team coach, joined the scene in June 2022, leading a team helmed by the tenacious Ben Stokes.
Over the span of 35 matches, England racked up wins in 22, maintaining a stellar win-loss ratio of 1.833, second only to the leaders Australia. While England has yet to make it to the World Test Championship final, they've earned a spot at No. 2 in the rankings.
The unconventional methodology behind the ICC Test rankings assigns points based on match wins, series wins, and the strength of the opposition. Conversely, the World Test Championship assigns a predetermined number of points for each result, regardless of the opposition's ranking. Wins against higher-ranked teams also don't garner extra points in the WTC, unlike in the ICC rankings.
England's impressive three-year run includes series victories against South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, with away wins in Pakistan and New Zealand. They've also seen some tough fights, drawing against Australia and New Zealand while winning against unconventional opponents like India and Ireland.
The updated rankings in May 2024 placed Australia and India at the top, with India holding the top spot in May 2023. Despite securing just four wins against these two teams since May 2022, England raked in valuable points in the ICC rankings, thanks in part to a dip in India's form. India has struggled in recent months, with a string of losses against lower-ranked New Zealand and higher-ranked Australia, along with a draw against the West Indies and a loss to South Africa.
South Africa, the finalists of this year's WTC, had a relatively easy route in the tournament, sweeping series against Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, drawing against India, and losing to New Zealand. Although this strategy allowed them to earn points and secure a spot in the final, it hindered their progress in the ICC Test rankings, with South Africa sitting at No. 3, two points behind England, who faced stronger teams during the same period.
England has also faced penalty points due to over-rate issues in the WTC, which diminishes their standing in that competition but has no impact on their ICC rankings. Nonetheless, fans can keep a close eye on our website for up-to-the-minute cricket scores, in-depth match analysis, player insights, team standings, and match odds. Stay in the know about the latest cricket news, player updates, and live match highlights, as well as engaging quizzes to test your knowledge.
- The ICC's updated Test rankings, considering games from May 2022, coincides with the advent of the "Bazball" era in English cricket, further emphasizing Brendon McCullum's and Ben Stokes' impact on the team.
- Despite the unconventional methodology of the ICC Test rankings, which favors strong opposition, England has earned valuable points, ascending to the No. 2 spot, overtaking cricket giants like India and Australia.
- In the ICC rankings, Ben Stokes and his team have successfully factored in wins against higher-ranked opponents, such as India and Pakistan, demonstrating their prowess and strategic approach in the sport.
