Test rankings update by ICC: England climb to second spot in Test format, slide to 8th in One-Day Internationals
🔥 Cricket Updates: English Lords on a Test Rise, ODI Slide 🏏
England's cricketing landscape is painting a mixed picture following the ICC's latest team rankings revamp. While soaring in Tests, they've taken a tumble in ODIs.
After every game or series depending on the format, the rankings are updated annually to reduce the weight given to matches older than a year and eliminate those beyond three years. This update puts all England's Test matches under Brendon McCullum's tenure in focus, showcasing a promising picture with wins against formidable opponents.
Under McCullum, England has been a force to reckon with, losing just two series, in India and Pakistan, and triumphing over the likes of New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and even Pakistan. They've also shown their mettle against India, Ireland, and New Zealand, claiming a series victory and a one-off Test win.
Contrary to their Test success, England's World Test Championship journey has been lackluster, with them never posing a serious threat for a final spot. Over-rate penalties, not accounted for in the rankings but impacting the WTC, and the strength of their opponents are the primary factors hindering them. Regularly squaring off against cricket giants India and Australia may not get}=\acknowledged in the WTC, but it does matter in the rankings, with victories against higher-ranked forces carrying more weight.
An unexpected setback for cricketing heavyweight India has contributed to their slide to fourth place, with South Africa occupying the third position. Meanwhile, England's descent in ODIs has been more pronounced, dropping to eighth following early exits at consecutive ICC global events. In the 2023 World Cup, they settled for seventh place and were the only team to lose all three games in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Stretching back from the disappointing results, England lost four consecutive ODI series, two to the West Indies, and one each to Australia and India. Sandwiched between these disappointments, they now stand barely above the West Indies and Bangladesh, with Afghanistan hot on their heels, only one point away.
On the brighter side, England has been more competitive in T20Is, qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals. While their victorious 2022 T20 World Cup performance may have reduced weightage, it is still in the ICC's reckoning.
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- Despite England's rise in Test cricket under Brendon McCullum, their performance in the ICC World Test Championship has been lackluster, with occasional victories against higher-ranked teams not being enough to secure a spot in the finals.
- In contrast to their Test success, England has been struggling in ODIs, with their descent reaching a new low after early exits at consecutive ICC global events, such as the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
- The ICC's latest team rankings revamp has highlighted England's struggles in ODIs, with their ranking dropping to eighth, barely above the West Indies and Bangladesh, and Afghanistan hot on their heels, only one point away.
