The ICC Test Rankings, also known as the ICC Test Championship, ranks the 12 Test playing nations by giving them a rating, which is based on a mathematical formula. Each team's points total from matches over the last 3−4 years is divided by a figure based on their total number of matches and series played.
Have a look at where each team stands in the ICC Test Team Ratings :
| Pos | Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
| 1 | India | 35 | 4027 | 115 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 26 | 2829 | 109 |
| 3 | South Africa | 27 | 2917 | 108 |
| 4 | England | 36 | 3778 | 105 |
| 5 | Australia | 27 | 2640 | 98 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 40 | 3795 | 95 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 27 | 2263 | 84 |
| 8 | West Indies | 32 | 2570 | 80 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 23 | 1413 | 61 |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 3 | 165 | 55 |
*Updated on 16 Sept 2019
Take a look at the ICC Test Batting Ratings :
| Pos | Player | Country | Rating |
| 1 | Steven Smith | Australia | 937 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 903 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 878 |
| 4 | Cheteshwar Pujara | India | 825 |
| 5 | Henry Nicholls | New Zealand | 749 |
| 6 | Joe Root | England | 731 |
| 7 | Ajinkya Rahane | India | 725 |
| 8 | Tom Latham | New Zealand | 724 |
| 9 | Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 723 |
| 10 | Aiden Markram | South Africa | 719 |
*Updated on 16 Sept 2019
This is the list of ICC Test Bowling Ratings :
| Pos | Player | Country | Rating |
| 1 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 908 |
| 2 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 851 |
| 3 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 835 |
| 4 | Jason Holder | West Indies | 814 |
| 5 | Vernon Philander | South Africa | 813 |
| 6 | James Anderson | England | 798 |
| 7 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 795 |
| 8 | Neil Wagner | New Zealand | 785 |
| 9 | Kemar Roach | West Indies | 780 |
| 10 | Mohammad Abbas | Pakistan | 770 |
*Updated on 16th Sept 2019
This is the list of Test All-Rounders Ratings :
| Pos | Player | Country | Rating |
| 1 | Jason Holder | West Indies | 472 |
| 2 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 397 |
| 3 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 389 |
| 4 | Ben Stokes | England | 387 |
| 5 | Vernon Philander | South Africa | 326 |
| 6 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 308 |
| 7 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 286 |
| 8 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 267 |
| 9 | Moeen Ali | England | 234 |
| 10 | Chris Woakes | England | 229 |
*Updated on 16 Sept 2019
| Team | From | Till |
| Australia | June 2003 | July 2009 |
| South Africa | August 2009 | November 2009 |
| India | November 2009 | August 2011 |
| England | August 2011 | August 2012 |
| South Africa | August 2012 | May 2014 |
| Australia | May 2014 | July 2014 |
| South Africa | July 2014 | January 2016 |
| India | January 2016 | February 2016 |
| Australia | February 2016 | August 2016 |
| India | August 2016 | August 2016 |
| Pakistan | August 2016 | October 2016 |
| India | October 2016 | present |
*Updated on 4 Sept 2019
The ICC awards the Test Championship Mace to the no. 1 Test team, which is the team which achieves the highest rating. The Indian cricket team, led by Virat Kohli, currently holds the mace, after finishing the year as the world no. 1 side, following their win against Australia in the four-match Test series held in Australia. They went on to win the series 2-1, and ensured that they stayed on top of the rankings.
Virat Kohli's men had a phenomenal home season in 2016-17, where they defeated England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Australia, at home. India then whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in Sri Lanka. Although they competed well, they lost 1-2 and 1-4 in South Africa and England respectively. India redeemed themselves with a historic 2-1 Test series victory on Australian soil in 2018/19.
New Zealand, on the other hand, has performed exceptionally well, occupy the second spot. South Africa are at third position and Australia are fourth. Australia, who have spent most time at top of the rankings since the 2000s, currently find themselves in the fourth position.
The ICC decided to award Afghanistan and Ireland the status of Test playing nations after all the success they achieved over the past couple of years. The ICC Test Championship is also a great initiative to encourage the associate nations to take up test cricket.
