Australia Dominate, but Movement Elsewhere

Australia continue to lead the table as we climb into 2025 and one doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon, however some interesting place swapping with some of these teams.

Let’s just remind ourselves of the criteria: this is a rolling table over a four year period. The numbers below are to December 2024. I have already removed the only series from January 2021, South Africa v Pakistan. The removal of that series helped Pakistan.

Each team gets two points for a win, irrespective of ladder position. A single point is gained by both teams in a tie. Three points are awarded for a series win. None of this is overly complicated.

Top Three

Let’s have a look at the top three, for they are they only teams in the top ten to have won more games than they have lost. They deserve to be there on that basis alone.

Look at Australia: lost four games over four years. Yep, that’s a loss per year. Ridiculous! Same number of series wins (12) as the next best, England, but with nine fewer matches. This team has undergone quite a number of significant changes over this past four years, but look at the next gen coming through. This is an extraordinary cricket team and quite clearly well governed. Expect them to stay right where they are.

In the same way that Australia stand out as number one, England are doing the same with second spot. They hold a hefty lead over third. This team has been relatively stable over the four years, Heather Knight leading for the most part, but an able deputy in Nat Sciver-Brunt has meant the leadership has been stable. Some very good talent unearthed over this period. Is this a new dawn for England? They can make a big statement in the Ashes if they can knock the Aussies off. I reckon Charlie Dean thinks they can. FEC.

South Africa have weathered a fair bit of turbulence during this period yet they too dominate their spot. A long way short of England but plenty of breathing room between them and fourth. Again, they have won more than they have lost. Given what they’ve been through, theirs is a remarkable achievement. Strong shoulders on the captain, Laura Wolvaardt, but she also has a team growing in self belief.

Mid Section

This is a group of India, Bangladesh and Ireland. All three teams have an opportunity to improve their position in January. A clean sweep of Ireland would see India correct the imbalance of wins v losses.

Rounding out the Top Ten

This bottom end of the top ten is populated by some big names, notably New Zealand and West Indies.