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ICC Test Match Rankings: Top 5 longest streaks as the No. 1 team

Pakistan rose to the top of the Test rankings for the first time in history

In order to provide relevance to Test cricket, the ICC introduced a ranking system in the Summer of 2003 to boost competition and make teams strive to be better and thus, improve the game overall. The basis of such a decision was that when teams are pitted against each other, it creates a sense of rivalry and increased competitiveness. 

Since June 2003, the ICC have released ratings at the end of each month. Australia, England, India, South Africa and most recently, Pakistan are the 5 teams to have sat on top of the team ratings in the 13 years since the introduction of the rating system. 

After every Test series, the teams involved secure a certain number of points. These points are divided by the number of matches to give each team a rating, and it is on the basis of this rating, that the teams are ranked. 

Apart from just providing the rankings, the ICC also awards a trophy to the highest ranked team known as the ICC Test Championship Mace. Apart from this, the team that sits on top of the rankings also receives a cash prize of $1 million every April 1st. 

Since 2003, there have been long stints and short stints at the top, here, we list the 5 longest reigns on the top of the rankings.

Note: The same formula was applied on all Tests dating back to 1952, thus some of those reigns will not be included here. This list highlights all the stints since June 2003, when the ranking system was introduced.

1)  England: 12 months 

England Cricket Team
Andrew Strauss celebrates with the ICC Test Championship mace

Despite many highs like the 2005 Ashes in the 13 year period since the rankings were introduced, England topped the ratings only once, from August 2011 - August 2012. They rose to the top after decimating India at home and let their throne slip after a loss to the Proteas at home.

They were captained by Andrew Strauss and boasted of one of the best squads with the likes of Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and the bowling attack of Staurt Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann.

After the high of climbing to the top with a comfortable win over India, they did not perform very well as the No. 1 ranked side. Their 12 month stint comprises of a 3 - 0 whitewash in UAE by Pakistan, a drawn series away at Sri Lanka, a comfortable 2 - 0 win over the Windies at home and finally, the home loss to South Africa, where they ended up losing their No. 1 spot. 

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