Just heard that South Africa are/will be the number 1 ranked test team. How does this occur? Australia is clearly the best team around, and convincingly defeated South Africa when they met. The only thing that goes against the aussies is the fact that they've played less games in the year.

Anyone have any comments?

Well, in the last home-and-away series to be completed:

Australia won everything except a drawn home-series with NZ, an away draw series against the West Indies, a lost away series to Sri Lanka, and a lost away series to India.

South Africa won everything except for a loss to Australia at home, drew with Pakistan at home, Lost against australia and england away, and drew with Sri Lanka away.

Hence in pure loss/ draw: Australia 2 lost series, two drawn. South Africa 3 losses, two drawn.

The latest series will change one "drawn" to a "win". Hence
two lost / two drawn vs 3 lost one drawn.


The problem is that the scoring system gives one point for a draw and two for a win. It then divides by total series played.

Three points for a win would be better.




Edit:

And also, Australia have never played Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, or sri lanka at home in qualifying (in terms of the ICC Championship) matches. Hence, less opportunity to score points (13 qualifing series vs SA's 17).

A home & away win against bangladesh for example, would raise Australia to 1.60 average, back in front of SA.

It is a silly formula of the statisticians which does not reflect the reality of gameplay. Such is the consequence of pandering to certain areas of the world which are obsessed with statistics.