Top 5 Teams Who Dominated No. 1 Spot In ICC Test Rankings For Most Consecutive Months

Before the World Test Championship came into existence, the Test ranking was the sole criteria to determine the world’s best team.

Introduced in early 2003, the two teams involved in a Test series receive points based on a mathematical formula involving both teams’ previous ratings and the rest of the series. The total points that each team accumulates over a period of the last 3-4 years are then divided by a figure based on the total number of matches and series played.

The ICC updated the rankings after every bilateral series and at the end of the cut-off month- April- the No.1 ranked side is awarded a mace and 1 million dollar cash price.

While plenty of teams have claimed the No.1 spot since 2003, only a handful of sides’ have managed to regain the top spot for an extended period of time.

On that note, here’s a look at the top-5 teams who have dominated the No.1 Test ranking for a prolonged period:

5. South Africa – 18 Months (July 2014- January 2016)

After having briefly lost their numero-uno spot in Test rankings to Australia in May 2014 thanks to a home Test series defeat to the former world champions, South Africa regained the top spot just two months later and they proceeded to hold on to the spot for another 18 months.

During this period, the Proteas won in Sri Lanka (1-0), obliterated Zimbabwe (1-0) and West Indies (2-0) at home before thumping Australia (2-1) Down Under for the third time in a row in the winter of 2016.

The only blip that South Africa had during the period was when they were annihilated in India by Virat Kohli’s team 0-3.

South Africa eventually lost the No.1 spot to India in January 2016. India held it for a month before Australia took over for the next four months.

4. India – 21 Months (November 2009-August 2011)

After a period of consistent performances both at home and overseas, Team India finally claimed the No.1 Test ranking spot in November 2009.

India’s rise to the top was built on home series win against Australia (2-0), England (1-0) in late 2008 which was followed by a historic triumph in New Zealand (1-0) in early 2009.

The MS Dhoni-led unit finally claimed the numero-uno spot by beating Sri Lanka 2-0 on home soil in November of that year.

Team India enjoyed the top-spot for a period of 21 months during which they drew in Sri Lanka (1-1)  and South Africa (1-1- home and away), won in West Indies (1-0)  besides beating Australia (2-0), New Zealand (1-0) on home soil.

Their stay at the top, however, came to a painful end in August 2011 when they were obliterated by a rampant England 0-4.

3. South Africa – 21 Months (August 2012-May 2014)

South Africa upstaged England from the top-spot, a year after the Andrew Strauss-led unit had leapfrogged India to become the No.1 ranked side in the world.

South Africa cloned the No.1 spot in the most convincing fashion ever as they annihilated England on their own turf 2-0. They then went on to beat Australia Down Under (1-0l to further establish their dominance in world cricket.

The Proteas then proceeded to thrash New Zealand (2-0) and Pakistan (3-0) on home soil before beating India 1-0.

Their 21-month dominance eventually came to an end following a 2-1 series defeat against Australia on home soil in early 2014.

2. India – 43 Months (October 2016-April 2020)

After having enjoyed a short span at the top (1 month) on a couple of occasions in 2016, the Virat Kohli-led Team India finally established themselves at the top of the table for an extended period of time- 43 months- in October 2016 following a 3-0 series win against New Zealand on home soil.

India then proceeded to beat England (4-0), Bangladesh (1-0), and Australia (2-1) during their 2016/17 home season to further establish their dominance.

The Virat Kohli-led unit then routed Sri Lanka 3-0 and 1-0 home and away. The big test was always going to come in overseas conditions and while Team India played compelling cricket, it failed to win the crucial moments and ended up losing 1-2 and 1-4 in South Africa and England respectively.

They, however, managed to hold on to the No.1 ranking by beating West Indies 2-0 on home soil in late 2018.

After a series of overseas disappointments, Team India finally scripted their first major triumph as they claimed their first-ever Test series win in Australia (2-1) in the winter of 2018/19.

India maintained their dominance in Test cricket throughout 2019 courtesy of imperious series wins against the West Indies (2-0), South Africa (2-0), and Bangladesh (1-0).

However, a 0-2 drubbing in New Zealand in early 2020, Australia’s red-hot streak on home soil, and the fact that the latest rankings did not take into account the performances of 2016/17, Kohli’s team lost the spot to the Aussies after a 43-month stay.

India, however, reclaimed the spot in March 2021 following another historic triumph in Australia (2-1) and the mauling of England (3-1) on home soil.

1. Australia – 74 Months (June 2003-July 2009)

When the ICC Test Rankings were released in 2003, Australia had already enjoyed a sustained period of dominance following their historic series win in the West Indies in 1995.

The late 90s and early 2000s saw Australia further establish its authority with ruthless performances- both home and away.

And, so, when the official rankings were released, it did not come as a surprise to anyone that they were awarded the top spot.

Between June 2003-July 2009, Australia under Steve Waugh and then Ricky Ponting, won 46 out of the 71 Tests that they played, losing just 11.

And, that period included series wins in all cricketing nations (sans England) including India (2-1 in 2004).

The Aussies suffered a shock defeat at the hands of England in 2005 (2-1) but they responded brilliantly by embarking on a 16-match winning streak, which included a 5-0 drubbing of England on home soil.

Australia’s winning juggernaut, just like in 2001, was ended by India in January 2008 when the Anil Kumble-led unit scripted an unlikely win at the WACA in Perth.

With stalwarts like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn calling it a day between 2007-09, Australia’s stranglehold finally weakened as they lost their first-ever Test series on home series in the 21st century to South Africa in 2008 summer.

Australia returned back by favor by beating South Africa on the latters home turf in early 2009 but their 74-month dominance at the top finally got over in July with the Proteas leapfrogging them to claim the numero uno spot.

Also Read: Teams With Most ICC Test Championship Mace Wins (2003-2019)