The Most Successful Cricket Teams by Win % in Test Format

In the world of this amazing game, Test cricket is classified as one of the most important engagements. It is played among international cricket teams that have met all the requirements to be called Full Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Test cricket is different from One Day Internationals (ODI) in a sense that it is made up of two innings in each team and there is no limit to the number of overs involved. In this piece, the focus is going to be on the most cricket teams by win% in the Test format.

7. Australia

As at the beginning of 2020, the record for the most successful international cricket team anywhere on the planet as far as win% in the Test cricket is concerned, and this is both in terms of the wins and the wins percentage. The Australian national cricket team has made history by winning 393 times in their total of 830 Tests.

This translates to a total of 47.34% which is the most successful ever as far as the most successful cricket teams by win % in Test format is concerned. One of the oldest teams in the game, Australia had its first Test match on the 15^th of March, 1877. Out of the total of 830 matches, the Australians lost 224 while two ended in ties and 211 of the games ended in draws.

6. South Africa

Better known as Proteas (named for the country’s national flower, Protea cynaroides), the South African national team has one of the most successful records in this regard. It is a full-fledged member of the International Cricket Council with Test status. Talking of Test engagements, South Africa had its first Test match on the 12^th of March, 1889 and to date, it has played a total of 439 games in all. The team won 165 and lost 150 and had no ties. A total of 124 matches ended in draws and this leaves South Africa with an overall winning score of 37.58%.

5. England

The England cricket team is one of the best known and highly-respected in the world of cricket. It represents England and Wales and it is also one of the oldest teams. From the 15^th to the 19^th of March, 1877, England alongside Australia, became the first team to play a Test match.
There is another aspect of history with the England cricket team and this is the number of the games in total, this comes to a total of 1,022 of which 371 were won. The English side lost a total of 304 only, tied none and had drawn in a total of 347 games. This comes to a total win score of 36.30%

4. Pakistan

It is no surprise at all that the Pakistan national cricket team is on this list. They are affectionately called the Shaheens or Men in Green and it had its first Test match on the 16^th of October, 1952. It has engaged in a total of 428 matches winning 138 and losing 130 while none was tied but 160 ended in draws. This left Pakistan with a winning score of 32.24%.

After a recommendation emanating from India, Pakistan earned its Test status on the 28^th of July 1952. At that particular historic engagement against India in October 1952, India ended up winning by 70 runs and an innings.

3. West Indies

Also known as the Windies, the West Indies cricket team actually plays for the Anglophone nations and territories in the Caribbean. It is under the administration of the Cricket West Indies. This is a very unique team in its composition.

Unlike the teams of other countries, the composition of the West Indies cricket team is somewhat different in the sense that those who play on the team are chosen from a total of 15 Caribbean territories, all of which are from many different countries and dependencies. It has an impressive rating and as at the end of 2019, it clinched the eighth position globally in the Tests.

It also has an impressive past because from the 1970s right to the beginning of the 1990s, the West Indies team was the global leader in not just Test but also One Day International cricket. This particular team has produced some of the finest cricketers ever seen – legends like Sir Frank Worrell, Malcolm Marshall and Clive Lloyd. On the 23^rd of June, 1928, the West Indies cricket team had its match and out of a total of 545 matches, the side won 174 and lost 195. It had a tie in just one game while 175 ended as draws.

2. Sri Lanka

Called the Lions, the national cricket team of Sri Lanka is also a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test status. While it had its first international cricket engagement in the 1926-27 season, it later received the Test status in 1982. On the 17^th of February, 1982, the Sri Lanka national cricket team had its first Test match and has taken part in a total of 289 games. Of these games, it won 92 and lost 109 drawn in 88 games and had no ties at all. This leaves Sri Lanka with an overall winning score of 31.83%.

1. India

As many would have suspected, this list cannot be said to be complete without mentioning India. The Men in Blue are under the administration of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and it is also a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test status.

On the 25^th of June, 1932, India had its first Test match and out of a total of 541 matches that it has taken part in so far, it won a total of 157 matches. The team lost 166 matches, tied one and drew in 217 games. Overall, this means India has a winning score of 29.02% and it was this score that ensured that it appears on this list. When India played its first Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in 1932, it became the sixth team to get the test cricket status.