1. What is a rating?
A rating is worked out by dividing the points scored by the matches played, with the answer given to the nearest whole number.
After every ODI, the two teams each receive a certain number of points, based on a mathematical formula. Each team's new points total is then divided by its new matches total to give an updated rating. With batting averages, if you are dismissed in your next innings for more than your average, your average will increase. Conversely, scoring less than your average will cause it to fall. Similarly, under the Reliance ODI Championship method, the points awarded for a win will always be more than the rating the team had at the start of the match.
Equivalently, a team losing an ODI will always score fewer points than its rating. So a win will always boost a team's rating and a defeat will harm it.
The ratings therefore give extra meaning to what might otherwise be regarded as 'dead rubbers'.
2. What does a particular rating signify?
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. A rating of 100 could also correspond to a side that wins more often than it loses but who has generally played more matches against weak teams.
Similarly, if the majority of its matches are against strong teams, then a rating of 100 could be achieved despite having more defeats than victories.
3. How quickly do ratings change?
The amount by which a rating improves after winning an ODI will depend on the rating of the opponent. A win over a much stronger team (i.e. one with a much higher rating) boosts the rating more than beating a much weaker opponent. Conversely, losing to a much stronger team will not cause the rating to drop too far, but losing to a weaker side would.
4. What period does the table cover?
The table reflects all ODIs played since August more than two years ago. This pattern is repeated each August, with the oldest of the three years of results removed to be gradually replaced with results of matches played over the following twelve months. Thus once a year, the rankings will change overnight without any new ODIs being played. This process, called updating the data, takes place at the start of August each year. This time has been chosen since it is usually a relatively quiet time in the ODI calendar.
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