Points Table in Cricket
How cricket tournament points tables work — points per result, NRR as tiebreaker, qualification scenarios, and how standings are calculated.
How Cricket Tournament Points Work
In ICC tournaments and domestic leagues, teams earn points based on match results. Points are accumulated across the group stage, with the top teams qualifying for the knockout rounds. The most common system awards 2 points for a win, 1 point for a No Result (rain-affected), and 0 points for a loss.
Standard Points System
| Result | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| Win | 2 points |
| Loss | 0 points |
| Tie (not resolved) | 1 point each |
| No Result / Abandoned | 1 point each |
| Super Over win | 2 points (treated as a win) |
Tiebreakers
When two or more teams are level on points at the end of the group stage, Net Run Rate (NRR) is the primary tiebreaker. If NRR is also equal (extremely rare), the next tiebreakers are: head-to-head result between the tied teams, then further NRR criteria. In some competitions, total wickets taken can also be used.
How Many Teams Qualify?
Qualification varies by tournament structure. In a World Cup Super 12 group of 6 teams, the top 4 typically qualify for the semi-finals. In a bilateral series, there are no group stages. The ICC publishes the exact qualification criteria for each tournament in its playing conditions document.
Reading a Points Table
| Team | P | W | L | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +1.24 |
| Australia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | +0.55 |
| England | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.12 |
| Pakistan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −0.48 |
In this example, India's 1 No Result gave them 7 points despite only 4 matches played. Australia has 6 points from 4 decisive matches. If both had 6 points, Australia's higher NRR (+0.55) would rank them above a team equal on points with a lower NRR.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do teams get for a No Result in cricket?
Both teams receive 1 point each for a No Result (abandoned match). This is the same as each team getting half the points of a win, reflecting that neither side could secure victory.
What is the tiebreaker if two teams are equal on points in a cricket tournament?
Net Run Rate (NRR) is the primary tiebreaker. If NRR is also equal, head-to-head results between the tied teams are used. Further criteria depend on the specific tournament's playing conditions.