Recently completed matches

2nd Test	New Zealand	v	Australia
Pre-rating	927.69		1216.63
Form	-22.65		+6.01
Expected Margin	Australia by 94 runs
Actual Margin	Australia by 176 runs
Post-rating	917.90		1220.63

A microcosm of Australia's summer. You'd think another collapse for less than 250 would be worrying the selectors, but it is obvious that the selectors are only interested in change following losses, or discarding those amongst the "playing group" that don't look the part, regardless of performance. Losses were in short supply all summer though. While Australia was inconsistently getting out for low scores, the three mediocre sides played were inconsistently achieving respectable totals. Over two innings, Australia always did enough to win, but better teams would punish them. Whether England are a better team, in Australia, in November, remains to be seen.

For New Zealand, Australia's bookend was their highlight, which is sad, given the inherent meaningless of the tie, and lack of interest shown from this side of the Tasman. They end the summer on a low, their rating continuing to go backwards, now ranked eighth again, and recently lost their two best bowlers. They need, as always, batsmen who can construct an innings. Some of the young players show potential, but they are a long way from being competitive with the top four.

Forthcoming matches

I-Shield Match	Namibia	v	Bermuda
Pre-rating	364.81		170.84
Form	-28.91		-29.47
Expected Margin	Namibia by 147 runs

An important game in a minor competition. The loser is almost certain to miss the final, the winner will need to beat one of Uganda or the U.A.E. in their remaining game. Namibia put up much the better performance in their game, taking first innings points against a reasonable U.A.E. side, whereas Bermuda collapsed twice for less than 150. While that, and the ratings would point to the home side winning comfortably, associate games are notoriously unpredictable, and noone has played enough games to make reliable predictions. With four days of thunderstorms predicted as well, perhaps a draw is the most likely outcome.

Rankings at 1st April 2010
1.	Australia	1220.63
2.	India	1209.46
3.	South Africa	1187.88
4.	England	1129.25
5.	Sri Lanka	1103.96
6.	Pakistan	1073.90
7.	West Indies	926.27
8.	New Zealand	917.90
9.	Bangladesh	628.23
10.	Zimbabwe	556.79
11.	Ireland	554.16
12.	Scotland	470.23
13.	Namibia	364.81
14.	Afghanistan	359.64
15.	Kenya	353.20
16.	U.S.A.	296.99
17.	Uganda	280.54
18.	Netherlands	220.31
19.	Nepal	179.54
20.	Canada	177.74
21.	Bermuda	170.84
22.	U.A.E.	155.26
23.	Hong Kong	147.15
24.	Cayman Is	134.24
25.	Malaysia	108.49

Shaded teams have played fewer than 2 games per season. Non-test team ratings are not comparable to test ratings as they don't play each other.

Cricket - Ratings - Test 1st April, 2010 11:42:02   [#] 

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