International cricket in 2018
The 2018 international cricket season was from May 2018 to September 2018. 16 Test matches, 27 One-day Internationals and 33 Twenty20 International, as well as 14 Women's One Day Internationals and 81 Women's Twenty20 Internationals, were played during this period.
The season started with India leading the Test cricket rankings, England leading the ODI rankings, Pakistan leading the Twenty20 rankings, and Australia women leading the women's rankings. This season was also the first to be scheduled under the 2018–2023 Future Tours Programme. In addition, all women's Twenty20 matches played between member sides after 1 July were given full international status and classified as WT20Is, as per a decision made by the International Cricket Council in April 2018. The first WT20Is to be classified as such under these new rules took place at the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier.
Men's international cricket started with Pakistan's tour of Ireland, which included a one-off Test match that Pakistan won. The Test match was Ireland's first ever. This season also included Afghanistan's first ever Test match and Nepal's first ever ODI matches. Scotland beat England for the first time in ODIs after winning the one-off ODI in Edinburgh. Scotland's innings total of 371/5 was the highest score by an Associate team against a Full Member team. In the 3rd ODI of Australia's tour of England, England scored a new record high ODI innings total of 481/6 off 50 overs.
The qualification process for the 2023 Cricket World Cup started with the World Cricket League Division Four tournament that was held in Malaysia. Uganda and Denmark were promoted to Division Three while Vanuatu and Bermuda were relegated to Division Five.
The qualification process for the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup continued in this season. The Africa Eastern Sub Region Qualifier was held in Rwanda and saw Kenya and Uganda qualify for the Africa Regional Qualifier. The Europe Group A, B, and C Sub Region Qualifiers were held in the Netherlands. Denmark, Germany, Guernsey, Italy, Jersey, and Norway qualified for the Europe Regional Qualifier. The East Asia-Pacific Group A Sub Region Qualifier was conducted and Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu qualified for the EAP Region Qualifier.
Women's international cricket started off with Bangladesh's tour of South Africa. In the first WODI of New Zealand's tour of Ireland, New Zealand scored a new record total in a WODI innings of 490/4 off 50 overs. The Women's Asia Cup saw a number of upsets occur. Bangladesh advanced to their first ever Asia Cup final after recording their first ever wins against India and Pakistan in WT20Is, and Thailand recorded their first ever victory over a Full Member nation after beating Sri Lanka. Bangladesh went on beat India in the final, to win their first Asia Cup title. In the first WT20I of the Women's T20 Tri-Series in England, New Zealand scored a new record total in a WT20I innings of 216/1 off 20 overs against South Africa. Later the same day, England broke the WT20I record, scoring 250/3, also against South Africa.Season overview
Rankings
The following are the rankings at the beginning of the season, following the ICC's annual re-weighting.April
Final standings
May
Bangladesh women in South Africa
Pakistan in Ireland
Pakistan in England
June
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan in India
2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup
Sri Lanka in West Indies
New Zealand women in Ireland
South Africa women in England
England in Scotland
2018 Netherlands Tri-Nation Series
Pakistan in Scotland
Australia in England
Afghanistan in India
2018 England women's Tri-Nation Series
India in Ireland
Bangladesh women in Ireland
July
2018 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series
India in England
Bangladesh in West Indies and United States
Final standings
Qualified for the 2018 World Twenty20.New Zealand women in England
South Africa in Sri Lanka
Pakistan in Zimbabwe
2018 MCC Tri-Nation Series
August
Nepal in Netherlands
Afghanistan in Ireland
