England slip to lowest rankings in Test Format since 1995, Ben Stokes expresses disappointment

In the latest ICC Test rankings, the England cricket team have slumped to the 6th position, which is their lowest since 1995. On the other hand, arch-rivals Australia currently hold pole position with two back-to-back series victories.

These ratings cover all the Test matches played since May 2019. The results prior to May 21 carry a 50% weightage, while the subsequent ones have a 100% weightage.

In this period, the English team have been a part of 38 Tests, and secured victories in only 13 of them, while drawing nine and losing the remaining ones.

In the last 17 Tests matches, the team has won on a single occasion, and have been disappointing with their performances. The newly-appointed England captain Ben Stokes opined on the latest ICC rankings of the team.

“Being completely realistic, winning one game in 17 is nowhere near good enough for the people we have in our team,” Stokes was quoted by 'i News'. 

The dashing all-rounder accepted that the team has not been good enough with their performances. He further added that the team certainly has a scope for improvement, but it can’t happen overnight. 

“We can look at that and go there is only one to go, which is up. We have not been good enough. That is not a dig at any individual as I have been part of that. As a team we know we have not been good enough, not played to the standard we know we can," the marquee cricketer reckoned.

“It’s about understanding that and fixing it but we need to understand things won’t happen overnight. I can’t just expect it to click and all of a sudden we are No 1 in a year’s time," Stokes concluded. 

These rankings are also a reflection of their shattering 4-nil loss to Australia in the Ashes 2021-22, and then following it up by a 1-nil loss to West Indies in March. 

Not surprisingly, England is languishing at bottom of the World Test Championship 2021-23 points table as well with one win in 13 appearances. 

In their next assignment, England will go up against New Zealand in June and then play India for a one-off Test. They will face South Africa in a three-match test series in August. These series will be played on their home soil and will serve as an opportunity for them to improve their position on the WTC table.