Top 9 teams with most wins in ICC World Test Championship history

The ICC World Test Championship was introduced in 2019.

The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) was introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to add more context to test cricket, which was thought to be “dying” and needed “preservation.” What this new format did was make test cricket more exciting as teams have now started to prepare bowling-friendly surfaces in order to gain a result.

While there are 12 test-playing nations right now, only nine teams take part in the ICC World Test Championship. Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies compete in the ICC World Test Championship. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are not part of the tournament.

The WTC is played in a two-year cycle, where each team plays three home and three away series in a cycle, with the top two sides meeting in a one-off final.

The inaugural edition of the ICC WTC was played from 2019 to 2021. New Zealand won the inaugural edition by defeating the Indian cricket team in the final. The second edition of the WTC was held from 2021 to 2023, with Australia being crowned as the champions and India losing the final again.

On that note, let’s take a look at the teams who have won the most matches in the ICC World Test Championship history.

Teams with the most wins in the ICC World Test Championship:

9. Bangladesh – 4 wins

Bangladesh have played 27 matches in the ICC World Test Championship, out of which they won only four and suffered defeat in 21, with two matches being drawn.

Out of four, their two victories came in 2024, when they whitewashed the Pakistan cricket team in Rawalpindi in the two-match test series, their first test series win over Pakistan.

8. West Indies – 8 wins

West Indies have played 35 ICC World Test Championship matches. Out of these, they suffered defeats in 21 and won only eight.

West Indies are placed eighth in the list of teams with most wins in ICC WTC history. They have been involved in six drawn games.

7. Pakistan – 11 wins

Pakistan have struggled to record victories even at home in the last few years. This has meant that they never reached the WTC final.

Pakistan have played 35 WTC matches. Of these, they won 11 and lost 17, with seven games ending in a draw.

6. Sri Lanka – 12 wins

After disappointing campaigns in the first two ICC WTC cycles, Sri Lanka have done well in the third cycle.

Overall, Sri Lanka have 12 victories to their name in 33 WTC matches and have suffered defeats in 16 games. Five games involving Sri Lanka have been drawn.

5. South Africa – 15 wins

Despite boasting one of the strongest bowling attacks in the world, South Africa have failed to make it to the finals of the ICC WTC.

The Proteas have played 34 ICC World Test Championship matches, out of which, they have won 15 games and suffered defeats in 17 tests. They have been part of only two drawn tests in the ICC WTC.

4. New Zealand – 15 wins

New Zealand were the champions of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship. They defeated India in the final in 2021 to lift the prestigious title.

So far, the Black Caps have played 33 WTC matches. Out of these, they won 15 and lost as many games. Three of New Zealand’s matches ended as drawn.

While they have done well in home conditions, New Zealand have mostly been thwarted when they tour away.

3. Australia – 28 wins

The Australian cricket team are the winners of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023. The mighty Aussies defeated the Indian cricket team in the final.

Australia are one of the consistent sides in the WTC cycle history. Their Win/Loss ratio of 2.8 is the best among the nine teams.

They have played 46 WTC matches and emerged victorious on 28 occasions while conceding only 10 losses. Australia have been involved in eight drawn tests.

2. England – 30 wins

England have played the most matches in the ICC World Test Championship history. England have played 61 WTC matches, out of which they won 30, lost 23 and drew eight.

England’s ‘Bazball’ style of play under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes has been a key talking point in the cricketing world over the last couple of years.

However, the Three Lions have never made it into the finals of the prestigious tournament.

1. India – 30 wins

Although India lost two consecutive ICC World Test Championship finals, they are hailed as the most consistent and strongest team as they managed to reach the final of both cycles while also securing wins away from home, most notably in Australia and England in the previous cycles.

The Indian side has been a dominant force in the WTC. They have played 48 games and won 30 while losing 13 and drawing five.

(All stats updated till 18th October, 2024)

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