Top 10 Greatest Cricket Teams Of All Time

Considered among the weaker teams at the beginning of the ‘90s, the Lankans turned things around like never before. Led by Arjuna Ranatunga, the team revolutionized batting to perfect the “pinch-hitting” technique. Batsmen like Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva clobbered bowlers from the get-go, pushing Sri Lanka toward a big total or an easy chase. With future bowling legends like Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas coming into their own, the team found a perfect recipe for success. Particularly strong in Asian conditions, the Lankan team rode their newfound momentum to win the 1996 World Cup. Although their time at the top was short-lived, the Lankans proved they belonged on the big stage as a force to be reckoned with.

Few sports teams are so far ahead of the competition that victory is a foregone conclusion. The Australian team has always been the best in Women’s cricket, but they’ve been a class apart since 2018. Finishing up matches with extreme ruthlessness, the Australians have won every tournament they’ve been a part of. Whether it’s the 50-over World Cup, multiple T20 World Cups, or the Ashes, these women have torn down their opponents time and again. It’s true that the quality of the opposition hasn’t been the best, but the one-sided victories in Australia’s favor are way too many to ignore. Barring the rare upset, the team has hardly ever been tested, as no one seems capable of stopping them any time soon.

After the disastrous 50-over 2007 World Cup, MS Dhoni engineered a remarkable comeback that won India the inaugural World T20. From then on, Dhoni established India as the team to beat. Hall of Famers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were well supported by young stars like Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin, as Dhoni looked for both experience and talent. India’s home grounds became their stronghold, with opposition teams finding little to no room for success. The one blip in an otherwise incredible run was the lack of wins in overseas Test tours, although they held their own in white-ball cricket. Dhoni’s men were always the favorites in global tournaments, ultimately winning the 50-over World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

While the no. 1 ranking generally varies across formats, England topped each in 2012. It was the culmination of a golden run kickstarted two years before. Led by Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, the English were near-flawless in sealing overseas victories. After beating Australia on their own turf with authority, England achieved the impossible by winning in India. This Test team is easily the strongest in their history, as batsmen like Cook, Joe Root, and Kevin Pietersen were complemented by bowlers Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Graeme Swann. Although global tournaments were still a weak point, the English team bagged several bilateral home and abroad series to make winning a natural habit.

It’s hard to go wrong when you’ve got hard-hitting batsmen like Gary Kirsten, world-class allrounders like Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener, and an intimidating bowling attack led by Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini. The Proteas are famously known for choking on the big stage. However, the 1998 squad won the inaugural Champions Trophy, beginning Hansie Cronje’s charge of taking South Africa to new heights. With coach Bob Woolmer, Cronje’s team used technological techniques to study the opposition and target their weak spots. Apart from world champions Australia, the Proteas bossed every other team around to become serious threats. Cronje’s role in the infamous match-fixing scandal destroyed the team’s aura, but their glory days can’t be forgotten.

In the ‘80s, no team seemed to challenge the mighty West Indies apart from Pakistan. The Men in Green propelled themselves in the early ‘90s, thanks to Imran Khan’s captaincy. Embracing the “cornered tigers” mentality, Khan’s men roared through global events like the Austral-Asia Cup before becoming world champions in 1992. It was an era defined by Pakistan’s bowling attack, with Khan, Waqar Younis, and Wasim Akram ruling the roost. Batting heavyweights like Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, and Inzamam-ul-Haq balanced the squad’s depth. This team carried a fearless attitude that brought a heightened level of excitement into the game. They might not have been invincible, but their daring approach enabled Pakistan to land at the top of the rankings at their peak.

Coming in straight after the end of WWII, Don Bradman ended his career in the best way possible. The legendary batsman continued to rack up the runs, leading a team that is now known as “The Invincibles.” Their peak saw the Australians play an entire English summer undefeated, remaining the only team to ever do so. Australia also dominated the other sides they faced, blanking New Zealand, South Africa, and India, while West Indies were handily defeated as well. This marvelous run brought cricket back to popularity in a post-war world, as crowds broke attendance match records to watch Bradman’s Invincibles in action. Although Bradman himself ended his career with a duck, the winning mentality he injected into his team continued after his retirement.

Virat Kohli’s appointment as captain in 2015 signaled India’s ongoing ascension. Kohli reestablished home conditions as an impenetrable fortress but took one step further overseas. The Indians became the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia, repeating this feat later on. They also adapted to English conditions, representing India’s constant improvement. Although global trophies have eluded them, they generally win all the group-stage matches before an unlucky knockout defeat. Batsmen like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill strike fear into opposition line-ups. India finally overcame bowling shortcomings with matchwinners like Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav who cut through batting orders in their opening spells. Their consistency paid off when India topped the rankings in all three formats, consolidating themselves above their opponents.

For a long time, it seemed as if the West Indies would rule cricket forever. Easily winning the first two editions of the World Cup, the Windies kept their hold on the sport in both ODIs and Tests. Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Michael Holding were among the pace brigade that decimated batting orders with ease. Batting legends Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, and Desmond Haynes piled up runs and then some, making for a team that was complete in every way. The Windies still hold the record for the longest unbeaten Test streak, remaining unconquered for a mind-boggling 15 years! Simply avoiding defeat against this team was considered a success, although few ever achieved it.

Heading into the 21st century, Australia remained far and away superior to everyone else. During this run, they managed a 16-match Test winning streak…twice! The team won the World Cup three times in a row, undefeated in their 2003 and 2007 campaigns. From trouncing a World XI in the Super Series to winning the Champions Trophy, Australia captured every piece of silverware available. Apart from the 2005 Ashes, the team largely dominated arch-rivals England, whitewashed fellow heavyweights South Africa, and overcame the “final frontier” India in 2004. Whether it was batsmen Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, or bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, the entire team was filled with legends of the game. When it comes to achieving excellence, look no further than this Australian era.

Which cricket team do you think is perfect in every way? Let us know in the comments.