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The ICC ranks players and teams across formats of the game: mostly focused on Test, ODI and T20I cricket. Maintaining the player and team rankings are one of the key responsibilities of the ICC. The rankings allow fans, players, coaches, and media to keep track of a player's performance on a regular basis. It's a common topic for debate among fans, but the entire system is driven by data, with no manual intervention or human opinion taken into consideration.

 

What Are ICC Rankings?

 

The ICC rankings describe the level of performance from players and teams worldwide. The rankings cover batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, and teams across T20I, ODI, and Test formats. The system is considered to be updated year-round and an opinion is not taken into consideration. It does not matter if anyone likes a player or not; what matters is how much impact that player makes in international matches.

 

To the ICC's knowledge, it employs an automated ranking system grounded entirely in data. There is no expert panel, no journalist vote, and no manual adjustment. ICC anticipates the identification of who is the best at any given time. Therefore, what happens is that rankings mostly reflect an idea of a "best active XI" with measurement only on current players.

 

Unlike Formula 1, ICC has never disclosed its fullest formula; however, it has disclosed some information that gives much insight into the working of the formula.

 

How ICC Player Rankings Work

 

Player rankings depend on a coin system whereby points can be gained or lost on the basis of performance by a player in every international match. These points are then assigned ratings, which can range from zero to one thousand.

 

• 900+ rating points: All-time great level, very hard to reach and harder to maintain
• 750+ rating points: Usually a top 10 player in the world
• 500+ rating points: A solid and established international player
• Below 500 points: Developing or inconsistent

 

Not every performance maximizes the player rating. A poor performance will decrease the points for the player; a good one may be similarly ineffective in causing improvement because others are performing better.

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Which Factors Affect Player Ratings?

 

The ICC algorithm analyses every match, granting points for various factors, including:

 

Match format

 

Different skills stand useful for various formats. For instance:

 

• Batters need patience in Tests and bowlers need endurance.
• In ODI, conditions of the pitch and scoring rates matter.
• In T20Is, the emphasis is more on power-hitting, carton bowling within the range of scores and maintaining a cool head.

 

The system offsets all the above criteria.

 

Existing Role of the Player

 

One parameter cannot be universally compared among batters, bowlers, and all-rounders. Batters are judged on runs, strike rate, match situation, opposition, etc. Bowlers are analyzed according to wickets taken, economy, match situation, etc. All-rounders are judged independently on both settings.

 

Strength of the Opposition

 

Points are scored for performance against top teams. A century against a strong team would likely result in more ICC rating points, whereas scoring a century against a weak team could lessen the value. Thus, the system safeguards itself against any near-rank manipulation; no player can go off improving ratings while facing weak opponents.

 

Context of Match

 

The system checks if the match was played at high scores or low scores, avoiding pitch report utilization as it is a subjective matter, and checking instead the scoreboard. For instance:

 

If both sides scored under 200 in an ODI, then runs became much harder to achieve, and therefore batters are awarded extra points.

 

If both teams have scored above 350, runs become easy and no matter how big the score is, the rating may not be influenced that much.

 

Player's Past Record

 

Past work is compared by relating his/her past career average with that of the current game:

 

• Points are awarded if a player performs higher than normal.
• Points drop if they perform below average.

 

Recent matches weighted heavier but still contribute to the total career score.

 

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Example of Rating System

 

For instance, if a 700-point-rated batter, making a century in a winning cause, does so against a highly rated Test side, they would have a dramatic upward movement in their rating. Conversely, a 900-point-rated batter who makes a fifty in an exceedingly high-scoring match might see almost no change.

 

The ICC Team Rankings Explained

 

Rankings of a team differ from ranking of a player. The study for team rankings was developed by statistician David Kendix. Team ratings are analogous to a batting average. The formula is:

 

Team Rating = Total Points ÷ Number of Matches (or Series)

 

Points are gained and lost by teams because of the following:

 

• Match result (win, loss, draw or tie)
• Strength of opposition
• Format of the game

 

Victory over a stronger team gives more points; defeat against a weaker team takes away more points. A drawn Test match against a strong team may increase a lower-ranked team's points.

 

Separate team rankings are maintained for Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

 

Which Teams Are Ranked?

 

Test and ODI rankings only include teams with official ICC status.

 

In T20Is, all ICC member nations meeting match requirements are ranked.

 

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ICC All-Rounder Rankings

 

All-rounder rankings are done through a different system. Rather than producing one cumulative rating, the ICC works out an index based on separate ratings for batting and bowling.

 

This is calculated through the following formula: (Batting Points × Bowling Points) ÷ 1000

 

This method saves the rankings for only those players who excel in both activities. If a player has zero points for bowling or zero points for batting, his all-rounder rating will automatically equal zero.

 

A rating in excess of 300 is a top-class rating. Historically, very few players have remained above this level for any length of time.

 

Why Fielders and Keepers Are Not Ranked Separately

 

As of now, the ICC does not rank fielders or wicket-keepers with separate ratings. There is data on fielding: it is not the best available. This includes incomplete records for missed catches, direct hits, or saved runs of older matches. Therefore, in regard to keepers, the ICC states that it is unfair to take them to task only based on catches and stumpings since wicket-keepers very much depend on bowlers to create opportunities.

 

Difference Between ICC Ratings and ICC Rankings

 

These two terms may appear similar but denote different things. The difference is simple:

 

• Rating = Amount of points assigned to a player or team (example: 842 points)
• Ranking = Standing on the table (example: Ranked No. 1)

 

A player can accrue points but stay at the same rank unless other players above him do poorly.

 

Minimum Requirements to Stay in Rankings

 

In these periods, at least one game must be played by all players:

 

• Tests: once in a period of 12-15 months
• ODIs and T20Is: once in a period of 9-12 months

 

Retired players are removed. Only the top 100 of the utmost ranking players will be visible.

 

If a player is injured or rested, they will not have a rating of zero but will then gradually lose rating points as long as they are absent.

 

How Often Are Rankings Updated?

 

Player rankings are updated weekly.

 

• Men's Rankings: every Wednesday
• Women's Rankings: every Tuesday

 

Completed matches only are included. Matches ending on the updating day do not count that week. The Team rankings are updated after each series for all formats.

 

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Does the Ranking Reset Every Year?

 

Yes. On May 1st each year, the ICC refreshes its system. Old results lose value, new gains. Thus it ensures that the rankings represent performance in the present, not clouded by history.

 

The Importance of ICC Rankings

 

ICC ranking speaks of the levels of performance. They help:

 

• Fans compare players.
• Selectors follow form.
• Broadcasters discussions on sport.
• Players seek improvement.
• Teams judge how they are against others.

 

So rankings are not perfect, but they surely give a fair picture of what is doing well over time.