ICC rankings..

Its been a long time since I posted something on my favorite topic. Of course, this post is about the ICC rankings. I think, after a long time the ICC rankings are finally proving to be something to check out as it mainly deals with current performances of players. I feel that this is the best way to judge a batsman or a bowler or for that matter, a team. The current form coupled with the home/away advantage/disadvantage stuff makes the rankings look a bit less sophisticated than what it was, a few months back. I have begun to follow these rankings ever since my God, Sachin retained his number one spot in rankings after his fine crucial knocks in the CB series finals against Australia in Australia. Ponting slipped to 2nd place and rightly so because of his dismal show in the CB series.
I became even more happy with the way the rankings were done because for the first time in many years, the Aussies have been pushed down to 2nd spot and the thoroughly deserving team, the Proteas who were consistent this season claimed the coveted no1 spot. But, today, I was in for a disappointment because, Sachin has been pushed to the no2 spot. But, Im atleast happy that its quite logical. Smith who has been in fine form this season claimed the top spot by scoring heavily in the recently concluded tour of Bangladesh. His man of the series award won him the top spot ahead of the God. I hope these 2 keep the Aussie captain Ponting in bay. At last, ICC rankings that are quite understandable. The rankings for test and ODI are as follows:

Test:

Teams Matches Points Rating

1 Australia 33 4650 141

2 India 38 4206 111

3 Sri Lanka 32 3490 109

4 South Africa 40 4345 109

5 England 40 4299 107

6 Pakistan 33 3107 94

7 New Zealand 21 1949 93

8 West Indies 28 2053 73

Name	Country
1	K.C. Sangakkara	SL
2	M.E.K. Hussey	AUS
3	J.H. Kallis	SA
3	R.T. Ponting	AUS
5	Mohammad Yousuf	PAK
6	M.L. Hayden	AUS
7	D.P.M.D. Jayawardena	SL
8	S. Chanderpaul	WI
9	Younis Khan	PAK
10	K.P. Pietersen	ENG

	Name	Country
1	M. Muralidaran	SL
2	D.W. Steyn	SA
3	S.R. Clark	AUS
4	B. Lee	AUS
5	M. Ntini	SA
6	A. Kumble	IND
7	S.E. Bond	NZ
8	Shoaib Akhtar	PAK
9	W.P.U.J.C. Vaas	SL
10	C.D. Collymore	WI

ODI :

Teams Matches Points Rating

1 South Africa 43 5478 127

2 Australia 44 5597 127

3 New Zealand 38 4312 113

4 India 56 6330 113

5 Pakistan 33 3595 109

6 Sri Lanka 44 4716 107

7 England 40 4200 105

8 West Indies 37 3567 96

Name	Country
1	G.C. Smith	SA
2	S.R. Tendulkar	IND
3	R.T. Ponting	AUS
4	Mohammad Yousuf	PAK
5	M.L. Hayden	AUS
6	A.C. Gilchrist	AUS
7	M.E.K. Hussey	AUS
8	K.P. Pietersen	ENG
9	A.B. de Villiers	SA
10	M.S. Dhoni	IND
	Top 100

	Name	Country
1	D.L. Vettori	NZ
2	N.W. Bracken	AUS
3	S.E. Bond	NZ
4	W.P.U.J.C. Vaas	SL
5	K.D. Mills	NZ
6	A. Nel	SA
7	D.B. Powell	WI
8	B. Lee	AUS
9	M. Muralidaran	SL
10	J.E. Taylor	WI