Ifs, buts and maybes surround Australia’s ascension to the top of Test rankings.

Australia will be world No.1 if they beat South Africa this series.

But they will lose that ranking two weeks later should England defeat India 3-1 in their current series.

Maybe they will be equal on ranking points, if Australia down the South Africans 1-0 and if England win 3-1.

But then England would be awarded top spot because they have played more games in the four-year rankings cycle.

And if the South Africans win or draw their series against Australia, they will retain their top ranking – even if England beat India 3-1.

Confused? Let the International Cricket Council (ICC) definition help you:

“A rating is worked out by dividing the points scored by the match/series total, with the answer given to the nearest whole number.

“After every Test series, the two teams receive a certain number of points, based on a mathematical formula.

“Each team’s new points total is then divided by its new match/series total to give an updated rating.”

Head still spinning?

Wondering what a rating actually signifies? Lets ask the ICC again:

“A team that, over the period being rated, wins as often as it loses while playing an average mix of strong and weak opponents will have a rating of close to 100.

“In every match the total rating points available equals the sum of the initial rating of the two teams, so ratings can be thought of as being redistributed rather than created.”

Okay, got it?

No? That didn’t help much?

What about the mathematical formula, on which the whole ranking system is based?

Lets turn, yet again, to ICC, surely they can explain it.

Well, actually, no. It’s not specified on their website nor their fancy looking powerpoint which supposedly explains the system.

But we can trust them. They are, after all, the ICC – a reputable, transparent governing body. Right?