Since its introduction in the 17th century, Cricket has spread and arrived in other parts of the world, extending its influence and enjoyment as it became an international sport. Furthermore, it established itself as a popular competition played by men and women alike.
Cricket is a game that requires individual skill and selfless teamwork. With a potential for each team to grow, there are always those who will stand above others based on their skill and records – so here are the top teams around the globe:
India
India didn’t start with rainbows as they first struggled to keep pace with the other teams. In the first fifty years since its creation, they only won 35 out of 196 Test matches. However, that soon changed when India first won a Test Victory title in 1952, where they stood above England. Afterward, the team defeated Pakistan and won their first Test Series.
It only went uphill from there. In 1983, the team won the First World Cup and defeated the West Indies. Although they lost to England in the Finals, that didn’t stop them from making a name in the league. In 2011, India rewrote history when it became the first team to win the World Cup on its turf.
Now, India boasts 1,712 international games, winning 779 of those and earning a winning average of 45.5. Over the years, India has shown improvement in abilities and skill – and that’s clear as they’ve already won the ICC Cricket World Cup twice. This year, the team boasts the top place in the Men’s Test Team Rankings, earning 3,031 points and a 121 rating.
What’s more, the Men’s Test Team ranking is constantly updating – as it is a global system among the 12 teams of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You could read more with a guide to cricket to help you understand the rankings and point system of the game.
Australia
If you’re looking for the earliest cricket teams worldwide, you could just be looking for Australia. However, this isn’t the only noteworthy fact of this team. Australia has also won the most Test matches and One-Day International games. The team has had 566 wins and 34 draws in their One-Day International games. Not only this, but Australia also boasts a win against India in the opening games of the 2019 One-Day International.
In addition, Australia has made history as they won the ICC Champions Trophy twice, making them the first team to do so. The team has also made it into the World Cup Tournament, having featured in seven and played a part in four.
The team has also won five World Cup Tournaments, and they’re the only team to win three World Cups in a row – in 1999, 2003, and 2007. Furthermore, they also placed second on the Men’s Test Team Rankings, earning 3031 points and a 121 rating. Nonetheless, the Australian Cricket Team is considered a powerful force in Cricket.
South Africa
The South Africa team is another squad that makes it into the top spot. This cricket team is called the Proteas, after their national flower. Although the team name may sound delicate, their play and players certainly aren’t.
South Africa is a team that shows grit. The team reached the semi-finals in the 1992 World Cup, where England defeated them. The team tried again in the 1996 World Cup as the team made it into the quarterfinals.
Although the Proteas have only won one tournament in the ICC (mostly known as the Champions Trophy), they did contest plenty of international games, which totaled 1,233. In these games, 647 were won, seven ended in ties, and 21 games in draws.
England
England is another strong team in the league, where it was and always has been overseen by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Moreover, this team became a founding member ever since the International Cricket Council (ICC) was created. Since then, this team went on to display incredible skill shown in their records.
As of March 2022, England has played 1,048 Test matches, winning 378 games. They also played 760 matches of the One-Day International competitions, where the team rose above others in 383 matches. Finally, the team finished second in the ICC Champions in 2004 and 2013, earning a winning average of 42.95%.
New Zealand
New Zealand had a rough start with Cricket. In its first 26 years, the team had difficulty earning a victory, and that only worsened when the team was regarded as an underdog in the league. However, such a downturn wouldn’t last long as New Zealand bound itself to an uphill turn with its explosive players and all-rounders.
Recently, this team overcame India in the 2019 One-Day International tournament. Overall, the team has played 1,388 international games and won 540 matches. Regarding international Cricket, the team has a winning rate of 38.9%, and they place fifth in the 2023 Men’s Test Team rankings.
Final Thoughts
Every team has the potential to grow – even more so during the upcoming international cricket competitions. Nonetheless, seeing the progress between each team, from their inception to their recent performances, allows every cricket fan to determine who has improved drastically.
Also Read:
- IND vs ENG: Jadeja, Sundar, Gill Hundreds Help India Earn Dramatic Draw Against England in 4th Test
- “If There Are No Bilateral Matches, Why Play in Multination Events?”: Azharuddin on India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash
- Men’s Asia Cup 2025 To Be Held In UAE; ACC
- Ben Stokes Creates History With 11,000 International Runs And Rare 7,000 Runs-200 Wickets Test Feat
