England drop to sixth in ICC Test rankings with lowest points total in 27 years
England have dropped a place to number six in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, leaving new captain Ben Stokes in charge of a side with their lowest points total in 27 years.
The ICC’s annual update, which drops results from the 2018/19 season and places greater weighting on recent matches, sees England switch places with Pakistan and lose their spot in the world’s top teams.
The fall is hardly a surprise given a record of one win in their last 17 attempts, including a 4-0 Ashes defeat this winter which helped Australia increase their lead in first place.
They have gone from one point ahead of India to nine in front, with inaugural Test champions New Zealand third and South Africa fourth.
By slipping to an overall rating of just 88 points – down in part to the removal of their 4-1 series win over India in 2018 from the reckoning – England now sit at their worst rating since 1995.
Speaking at his captaincy unveiling on Tuesday, Stokes admitted the team’s run of results was unacceptable.
“I think if we’re completely realistic, winning one game in 17 is nowhere near good enough,” he said.
“Everyone needs to be realistic with that. What we can do is say ‘there’s only one way to go from here, which is up’.
“I can’t expect it to just click and all of a sudden we’re number one in a year’s time.
“That would be fantastic, but I’m very excited about the role I’ve got to play in hopefully making the England Test team great again, it’s a big goal of mine and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Eoin Morgan’s white-ball side remain second in both limited-overs formats, closing the one-day international gap on New Zealand to one point and sitting five adrift of India in T20s.
Latest
-
NewsJames Anderson removes Joe Root for just four but Yorkshire thwart Lancashire
Harry Brook came to Yorkshire’s rescue to secure a Roses draw.
-
NewsAndrew Symonds – the Queensland larrikin known as Roy with explosive batting
The former Australia all-rounder was killed in a car crash at the age of 46.
-
NewsTributes to an ‘extraordinary player and even better human being’ Andrew Symonds
Symonds died aged 46
-
NewsFormer Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in Queensland car crash
The 46-year-old played over 200 times for Australia across all formats.
-
NewsCricket world reacts to tragic death of ex-Australia player Andrew Symonds
The ‘cult figure’ of the sport was killed in a car-crash on Saturday night.
-
NewsFormer Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in car crash aged 46
Symonds played 26 Tests and 212 limited-overs internationals for his country.
-
NewsJoe Root century checks Lancashire’s victory bid in Roses clash
Jack Leach took an eight-wicket match haul as Somerset claimed victory over neighbours Gloucestershire.
-
NewsSurrey rewrite record books while Lancashire and Northamptonshire take control
Surrey equalled the first-class record for the number of players making half-centuries without passing three figures.
-
NewsBrendon McCullum took England job for challenge of improving ‘rock bottom’ team
The ex-New Zealand skipper should, pending visa approvals, arrive in the UK in time to lead a three-Test series against his home country next month.
-
NewsKeaton Jennings shines as Lancashire dominate Roses rivals Yorkshire
Jennings, Ben Stokes and Haseeb Hameed were all in excellent form with the bat in their respective matches.