London: Australia returns for its ninth Test series in the Caribbean against the West Indies. On this occasion, Australia begin its four Test series holding the equal highest rating by any team in history with 1236 points, while the West Indies is near its lowest ebb in 75 years of Test cricket. Australia has been the form team in Test cricket over the last four years and has lifted its rating by 112 points. Australia can lay claim to being as invincible as Sir Vivian Richards' West Indian team of 1986, with whom it shares the highest rating. While Australia has been almost continually climbing through the ratings stratosphere, West Indies cricket has continually plummeted. Four years ago, West Indies held fourth place in the ratings. Since that time it has lost 79 ratings points to its current rating of 1004 points. West Indies now holds its fourth lowest rating in history. West Indies has a proud record at home against the Australians. It is one of the few nations with a winning advantage in both ODI series and Tests. In eight Test series, West Indies has won four, lost three and drawn one - the last series when Stephen Waugh initially took over as Australian captain in 1999. In 38 Tests, West Indies has won 13, lost 12 and drawn 13. Despite that record, West Indies will be lucky if it avoids a whitewash in the series against Australia. West Indies has replaced Carl Hooper as captain with Brian Lara, whose captaincy record leaves much to be desired. Hooper has subsequently withdrawn from the series leaving the side somewhat lacking in experience. Australia, for its part, has lost the services of Glenn McGrath (family reasons), Shane Warne (drug ban) and Damien Martyn (injury). These three players have played more Tests between them than the entire West Indian squad apart from Lara. However, while West Indian reserves are few and far between, Australia can call on more able replacements. Australia starts the four Test series in the Caribbean holding an enormous 232 point lead over West Indies. As a result, Australia can only afford to concede a single draw while winning the other three Tests if it is to improve its rating and claim the highest rating in history in its own right. Regardless of the result, Australia will remain firmly fixed in first place after this series. West Indies starts the series in eighth place in the ratings. The home side can start improving its rating if it win a Test or claim two or more draws. West Indies can draw level with seventh placed India if it wins the series 2.5 to 1.5. In the unlikely event that West Indies wins by a whitewash, it would claim fifth place in the ratings. Speculation regarding when Stephen Waugh will draw stumps on his phenomenal career continues within Australia. That speculation comes despite the likelihood that any other side in the world would pick him automatically, perhaps until such time as he gets buried in a box - and then only reluctantly. For Waugh, the series represents unfinished business. A draw in his first series as captain was not the result expected at the time. Waugh will want to set the record straight. Would anyone want to bet against him?
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia 1236
2. South Africa 1161
3. Pakistan 1062
4. England 1053
5. New Zealand 1041
6. Sri Lanka 1030
7. India 1029
8. West Indies 1004
9. Zimbabwe 902
10. Bangladesh 818
To find out more, visit the Test Cricket Ratings Service.
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