Rediff Test rankings: Hard to dislodge Australia

Losing a Test to Pakistan hurt, but Australia (73.7) continue to reign supreme in the Rediff Test Rankings; chiefly because the ranking scheme looks at a wider performance window than the ICC Reliance Mobile rankings.

We must stress that there is no 'perfect' ranking scheme. The ICC Reliance Mobile rankings use one kind of model, while the Rediff rankings use a different, but just as rigorous, formulation. Both methods have their pros and cons, although only one carries the 'official' tag. A cricket fan would probably like to look at both.

England (46.1) are resurgent and could zoom to the top if they win an away Ashes series. Pakistan (42.2) have climbed after impressive wins against Australia and England. A quick calculation indicates that Pakistan might have been ahead of England if they had won the tests at Sydney and Lord's; a Sydney win would have been especially invaluable because test cricket's greatest challenge is still to beat Australia in Australia.

India (64.1) too gain, because they managed to draw away in Sri Lanka ... which too is something that sides visiting Sri Lanka achieve rarely.

Table A updates the ratings after these results, and also England's 2-0 wins at home and away against Bangladesh, Australia's thumping 2-0 triumph away in New Zealand and South Africa's 2-0 away victory in the Caribbean.