World Championship for Test Cricket

Introduction

The ICC Test Championship was introduced at the start of the England v Pakistan series in May 2001 to add interest, context and excitement to the game at the highest level. The rankings run on a rolling basis enabling direct comparisons to be made between the Test playing nations at any time. Australia headed the official table when it was launched and has continued to dominate the ratings, although it briefly ceded first place to South Africa from January 2003 to May 2003. After every Test Series, the two teams invovled in the series each receive a certain number of points, based on a mathematical formula relating to the results of the matches in the series. This system is then used to update the ICC Test Championship Table. Series that have been completed since August 2005 currently contribute to each team's rating in the table. However, only points gained in series completed since August 2007 count 100% in the table. Points gained from earlier series only count 50%.

Calculating Series and Ratings Points
Series points are scored as follows:

  • for a match win, 1 point to the winning team
  • for a match loss, 0 points to the losing team
  • for a drawn/tied match, ½ point to each team
There are also bonus points available in a series:
  • for a series win, 1 point to the winning team
  • for a series loss, 0 points to the losing team
  • for a drawn/tied series, ½ point to each team
The total number of series points available is always one more than the number of matches in the series.

There are two methods used for calculating the rating points achieved by each side in a series:

Method 1 - if the two teams' ratings differ by less than 40 points
The number of ratings points equals

  • the series points scored multiplied by 50 points more than the opponents rating
    plus
  • the series points conceded multiplied by 50 points less than the opponents rating

Method 2 - if the two teams' ratings differ by 40 points or more
The number of ratings points for the higher rated team is:

  • the series points scored multiplied by 10 points more than the team's own rating
    plus
  • the series points conceded multiplied by 90 points less than the team's own rating
The number of ratings points for the lower rated team is:
  • the series points scored multiplied by 90 points more than the team's own rating
    plus
  • the series points conceded multiplied by 10 points less than the team's own rating
The Championship table is updated by adding the ratings points achieved to each side's existing total and also adding the total number of series points available the each team's matches played total. A new rating is then derived by dividing the new rating points total by the new matches played total.

More information about the ICC Test Championship can be found here.

 

Exercises

Work out the answers to the questions below and fill in the boxes. Click on the Click this button to see if you are correct button to find out whether you have answered correctly. If you are right then will appear and you should move on to the next question. If appears then your answer is wrong. Click on to clear your original answer and have another go. If you can't work out the right answer then click on Click on this button to see the correct answer to see the answer.

Where answers involve a fraction, use a decimal.

Question 1
In June 2006, England completed a three match series against Sri Lanka.
Each side won one test match with one match drawn.
Calculate the series points earned for each side for the series.

England series points

India series points

 

Question 2
In May 2006, South Africa played New Zealand in a three match series.
South Africa won the series 2-0 with one match drawn.
Calculate the series points earned for each side for the series.

South Africa series points

New Zealand series points

 

Question 3
During the summer of 2006, England hosted Pakistan in a four match test series.
England won the series 3 matches to 0, with one drawn match.
Before the series, England's rating was 113 and Pakistan's rating was 120.
Calculate the number of rating points that each side gained during the series.

England rating points

Pakistan rating points

 

Question 4
Beginning in November 2006, England will defend the Ashes in Australia in a five match test series.
Before the start of the series, the respective Championship entries for each country were
(a)  Calculate the number of rating points that each side will gain during the series if
 i).   England win the series 3-1, with one drawn match

England rating points gained

Australia rating points gained
 ii).  The series is tied 2-2.

England rating points gained

Australia rating points gained

(b) Calculate the new rating points and rating for England and Australia after each of the scenarios described. (Remember to round the rating to the nearest whole number)
 i).   England win the series 3-1, with one drawn match
England new rating points

England new rating

Australia new rating points

Australia new rating
 ii).  The series is tied 2-2.
England new rating points

England new rating

Australia new rating points

Australia new rating














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Updated by R.D.Geach November 2006