Bangladesh take 2009 honours!

Calculated solely on the basis of winning percentages, the Asian minnows towered over teams such as India, the number one Test team in the world, and Australia, who top the ICC’s one-day rankings.

Interestingly enough, Bangladesh occupy the ninth place in the ICC rankings for both Test matches and one-day internationals!

Bangladesh played three Tests in 2009, winning two and losing one for a winning percentage of 66.66. Australia played 13 Tests, winning seven, losing three and drawing the other three for a winning percentage of 53.84.

India, who finished the year ranked the top team in Test cricket for the first time ever, had three wins and three draws from six Tests played in 2009, making for a winning percentage of 50.00.

In one-day cricket, Bangladesh won 14 matches and lost five out of 19 played for a winning percentage of 73.68. Their cause was helped by the fact» that they played against a weakened West Indies team in both Tests and one-dayers after the main Caribbean players stayed away following a contractual dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board.

Additionally, Bangladesh also played a significant number of matches against a Zimbabwe team clearly in the rebuilding stage, having lost several of their top stars in the last few years for various reasons.

Ranked second in the ICC ratings, India had the second best winning percentage behind Bangladesh, 62.96, courtesy 17 wins and 10 losses from 31 matches played, with four no-results. Defending World Cup and Champions Trophy winners Australia were third in the percentage table. Out of 39 one-dayers played, the Aussies won 23, lost 14 and were involved in two no-results, giving them a winning percentage of 62.16.