Cricket's Balance of Power at a Glance

Image: Sameer Pawar

We looked beyond ICC rankings to assess where the top 8 teams stand on cricket’s power map. We considered clout and competence, and here’s what emerged.

Top Dogs
India

• Reclaimed top spot in ODIs for the first time since 1995 after a power-packed show at the ICC Champions Trophy. Shifted focus from corruption charges plaguing the BCCI.
• On a course correction after losing their way in 2011-12, particularly against England and Australia. Recovered lost ground on home turf against West Indies and Australia.
  

 
England

• Relinquished top spot in Tests to South Africa following a home humbling, but boast a bowling attack that has them as favourites in the Ashes series.
• Disappointing in the T20 format since winning the World T20 in 2010, dropping from 1st to 5th position.
  

South Africa

• Easily the best Test side but flatter to deceive in the limited-overs format where they struggle to remove the ‘choker’ tag.
• Powered by Dale Steyn, the world's best fast bowler. But overly reliant on him and Graeme Smith, their Test captain who no longer plays the shorter versions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Strugglers

Sri Lanka

• Regressive peformances in both ODIs and Tests, dropping to 5th and 6th in the world, respectively. Ageing team has been key factor in decline.
• Form away from home is iffy, bowling attack looks blunt.
  

 

Australia

• Slipped to 3rd in ODIs and a woeful 7th in T20s. What would hurt them most is their decline in Tests where they are now 4th.
• Michael Clarke and Shane Watson only players who can be counted on for brilliance.
  

West Indies