In essence, after every Test match, the two teams involved receive points based on a mathematical formula. The total of each team's points total is divided by the total number of matches to give a 'rating', and the Test-playing teams are ranked by order of rating (this can be shown in a table)
By analogy to cricket batting averages, the points for winning a Test match are greater than the team's rating, increasing the rating, and the points for losing a Test match are always less than the rating, reducing the rating. A drawn match between higher and lower rated teams will benefits the lower-rated team at the expense of the higher-rated team. An 'average' team that wins as often as it loses while playing a mix of stronger and weaker teams should have a rating of 100.
As of 6 January2005, Australia leads the ICC Test Championship with 132 points, with England in second place (109 points), marginally ahead of India (108 points).
Test Championship calculations
The calculations for the Table are performed as follows:
Each team scores points based on the results of their matches.
Each team's rating is equal to its total points scored divided by the total matches and series played. (A series must include at least two Tests).
A series only counts if it was played in the last three years.
Series played in the first two years of the three-year limit count half; essentially, recent matches are given more weightage.
To determine a team's rating after a particular series:
Find the series result
Award 1 point to a team for each win
Award 1/2 point to a team for each draw
Award 1 bonus point to the team winning the series
Award 1/2 bonus point to each team if the series is drawn
Convert the series result to actual ratings points
If the gap between the ratings of the two teams at the commencement of the series is less than 40 points, then the ratings points for each team equals:
(The team's own series result) multiplied by (50 points MORE than the opponent's rating) PLUS
(The opponent's series result) multiplied by (50 points LESS than the opponent's rating)
If the gap between the ratings of the two teams at the commencement of the series is more than or equal to 40 points, then the ratings points for the stronger team equals:
(The team's own series result) multiplied by (10 points MORE than the team's own rating) PLUS
(The opponent's series result) multiplied by (90 points LESS than the team's own rating)
If the gap between the ratings of the two teams at the commencement of the series is more than or equal to 40 points, then the ratings points for the weaker team equals:
(The team's own series result) multiplied by (90 points MORE than the team's own rating) PLUS
(The opponent's series result) multiplied by (10 points LESS than the team's own rating)
Add the ratings points scored by the team to the total ratings points already scored (in previous matches, as reflected by the Table) and calculate the new rating.
This week's opening npower Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's (17th to 21st May) will be the curtain raiser to the first Championship of Testcricket.
An ongoing TestChampionship, that tracks the fortunes of each side and provides a talking point for enthusiasts is one way of rekindling interest and adding context to all future Test series," he added.
ICC will be responsible for administering and updating the Championship table at the conclusion of each Test series *All Test series now follow the ICC 10 year tours programme, introduced in February 2001 *A Test series is defined as a minimum of two matches.
The ICCTestChampionship is a notional competition run by the International Cricket Council in the sport of cricket for the 10 nations that play Testcricket.
By analogy to cricket batting averages, the points for winning a Test match are greater than the team's rating, increasing the rating, and the points for losing a Test match are always less than the rating, reducing the rating.
As of 13 June, 2004, Australia leads the ICCTestChampionship with 127 points, with South Africa in second place (112 points) and England third (107 points).
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