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[tim2000s]

Having a quick review of the ICC website and I saw the ICC world Player rankings, here: http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/

The top ten Test Batsmen are listed as:

1   883   J.H. Kallis   
2   823   A.N. Cook   
2   823   I.R. Bell   
4   818   S.R. Tendulkar   
5   806   K.C. Sangakkara   
6   776   I.J.L. Trott   
7   775   S. Chanderpaul   
8   770   K.P. Pietersen   
9   762   R. Dravid   
10   760   A.B. de Villiers   

The top ten test bowlers are:

1   899   D.W. Steyn   
2   802   J.M. Anderson   
3   761   G.P. Swann   
4   751   M. Morkel   
5   738   S.C.J. Broad   
6   713    Zaheer Khan   
7   710   M.G. Johnson   
8   652    Shakib Al Hasan   
9   623   D.L. Vettori   
10   619   C.T. Tremlett

Now as I look at these, and the recent series that have taken place, I'm not sure whether the ranking system really makes a lot of sense to me. Take Tendulkar, for example. Given that both he and Dravid played against England in the last series and that Dravid performed significantly better, how can he be ahead in the ranking?

Similarly, Zaheer Khan at number six in the bowling rankings is great, but he's played 7 test matches in the 2010/2011 period as opposed to Stuart Broad who's played 13 and Jimmy Anderson who's played 15. Does that merit his position in the ranking?

They seem, well, slightly skewed... What's your opinion?

[Johnny]

I'm sure there's some maths behind it, that makes it logical

[tim2000s]

I'm sure there's some maths behind it, that makes it logical

There may be arithmetic behind it, but that doesn't make it logical...

The black magic behind it certainly isn't given away by the ICC...

[peplow]

I find rankings in most sports make no sense!
take womans tennis, with the top player not having won a grand slam event,
take football, england moved up recently after failing to qualify for last euro's and failing in the world cup.

They seem to take some odd things into account, and seem to relate to a long way back and consistancy.

[uknsaunders]

football rankings are a joke, England 4th? Don't make me laugh, they've haven't beaten a decent team in years.

[Number4]

When  no-one can explain the formula used to work out the ratings how can this be taken serious...really

[Johnny]

Haven't read this in full yet, but here's an explanation of the way the rankings work:

http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/about.php

[Number4]

I read that johnny but really can anyone decifer that... Pick a game...any game..any player and tell me how many points that player got from that game

[100 not out]

i think Misbah Ul Haq has been prolific since his return to international cricket. what number is he??

[Lekka Global Alliance]

Rankings are only there for stats fans who more often than not have not played the game or simply cannot play the game.

[tim2000s]

I read that Johnny, and to take the England-India series into account, Dravid scored significantly more runs than Tendulkar in hilariously lop-sided matches that would drive the percentage of his side's score factor, however, he has gained 62 points versus Tendulkar losing only 40, yet Dravid scored more than twice as many runs as Tendulkar at better than double his average.

[Buzz]

the only time these rankings are worth looking at is when the player gets more than 900 points, that is the sign of a true great.

The exception that proves this is Sachin who has never made 900 points

[tim2000s]

the only time these rankings are worth looking at is when the player gets more than 900 points, that is the sign of a true great.

The exception that proves this is Sachin who has never made 900 points

Clearly not a great then.... 

[Number4]

Maybe a little off topic but check out Bradmans rating graph and then check the others... shows major consistancy

http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/alltime/test/

[mike1989]

I wouldn't take much notice of the rankings systems, whether it be in cricket or football or any sport. They rarely get things right, because if Shakib Al Hasan  is the 8th best bowler in the world, well, test cricket is screwed. He's good, but he wouldn't make my current first 11 for a world test 11, and to be honest, he probably wouldn't even make my 2nd either...