Australia had enjoyed more than a year at the top of the ICC Test team rankings, and had 122 rating points till yesterday (May 1). With 119 points, India were hot on their heels. However, the recent rankings update have left India with 121 rating points and Australia with 116, and the teams have consequently swapped ranks despite not having played Test cricket in nearly two months.

This change in rating points occurred because all Test series played before May 2020 have now ceased being part of the rating calculations. Every year, during the annual rankings update, the cut-off date is updated with the aim of not letting performances from more than three to four years back have a say in the present-day rankings.

In the current ranking cycle, all Test series played between May 2020 and May 2022 will have a 50 percent weightage, whereas the ones played after May 2022 will have a 100 percent weightage in the calculation of the rating points.

Australia’s two home series victories in 2019/20 – 2-0 against Pakistan, 3-0 against New Zealand – are, thus, no longer considered. The weightage of their 4-0 Ashes in 2021/22, too, has dropped from 100 percent to 50 percent. All that has obviously resulted in them dropping rating points.

India on the other hand, have benefitted from the cut-off date update. Their 0-2 defeat in New Zealand in 2019/20 has dropped out of the window, which has resulted in an increase in rating points.

Both teams will now compete in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in about a month’s time. This will be the first Test match at a neutral venue between the sides. Australia head into the event as the top-ranked team on the WTC table while India go in as the top-ranked side as per the ICC Test rankings.