FAQ about ICC Rankings
What do the rankings measure?
The ICC Rankings identify players who would be potential selections for an ICC World XI if picked today. While often described as a form ranking, they take into account a player’s entire career, with more weight given to recent performances.
What’s the difference between ‘rankings’ and ‘ratings’?
‘Rankings’ refer to the position of players in the tables, while ‘ratings’ refer to their points.
How do you decide who is or isn’t included in the list?
Players must have participated in a match within the qualifying period (12-15 months for Tests, 9-12 months for T20s and ODIs) to be included. If a player retires or doesn’t play, their rating diminishes, and they are removed from the rankings over time.
When are the rankings updated?
Since March 2021, women’s rankings (ODI and T20I) are updated every Tuesday, and men’s rankings (all formats) are updated every Wednesday. The updates cover all matches completed until the previous day.
What happens to a player’s rating if he plays but does not bat/bowl?
A batsman’s rating remains unchanged if they don’t bat. For bowlers, if the opposition makes a small total and they don’t bowl, there is no penalty. However, if the opposition scores heavily and they don’t bowl, they lose points.
What does it mean to have, say, 500 points?
Ratings over 900 points represent a supreme achievement. A rating of 750+ places a player in the world top ten, while 500+ reflects a solid rating.
What about ratings for wicket-keepers?
Wicket-keepers aren’t rated based on catches and stumpings due to dependence on bowlers creating chances. There is no rating system for missed chances or fielding skills, so no specific rating is given for wicket-keepers.
Who decides how good the pitch is?
No one. All rating calculations are based on the scorecard. A high-scoring game is considered easier for batting, while a low-scoring match indicates runs were harder to come by, which influences the value of runs scored.
How do you rate all-rounders?
An all-rounder’s index is determined by multiplying the player’s batting and bowling points and dividing by 1000. An index above 300 is considered world-class.
Is it harder to score points against some of the lower-ranked teams than against higher-ranked teams?
The ratings account for the strength of the opposition, so playing against lower- or higher-ranked teams should not give any significant advantage in terms of scoring points.
