International cricket matches are played between the teams representing their nations, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The main forms are Test matches, One-Day matches and Twenty20 matches.
Most games are played as parts of "tours" when one nation travels to another for a number of weeks or months and plays a number of matches of various sorts against the host nation. The ICC also organises competitions that are for several countries at once, including the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup & ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
History
editThere was no formal structure for international cricket until the early 20th century.[1] It had long been traditional for countries, without any intervention from a body such as the ICC, to organise for themselves the various cricket matches. The first international match was contested in 1844 between teams representing the United States and Canada, at St George's Cricket Club in New York.[2] The ICC later committed the Test-playing nations to play each other in a programme of matches over a period of 10 years known as the ICC Future Tours Programme. This system was set up to encourage some of the better-established countries to play the lesser nations more frequently.
Tours
editOutline
editMost Test, One-Day and Twenty20 matches take place in the form of "tours". In a tour, one nation travels to another and plays warm-up matches, which may be first-class matches, against domestic teams such as county or state teams, a series of Test matches against the host nation, and either a series of One-Day (ODi) and T20 matches against the host nation or a tournament involving the host nation and another touring nation. Tours may include Test, ODI and T20I matches, or just one or two of these formats.
Test series can last from two to six matches, but some tours consist of only a single Test. Six-match series were common in the 1970s and early 1980s, with the last six-match series to date taking place in 1997–98 between the West Indies and England. Ashes Test series in England were six-match affairs between 1981 and 1997, but Australia reverted to five matches in its home series from 1982 to 1983.[3][4][5] The most important series last four or five matches, while the less important ones last two to three matches. Sometimes, a perpetual trophy is awarded to the winning team. Perpetual trophies include:
- The Ashes (England–Australia)
- Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia–West Indies)[6]
- Trans-Tasman Trophy (Australia–New Zealand Test series)[7]
- Chappell–Hadlee Trophy (Australia–New Zealand ODI series)[8]
- Border–Gavaskar Trophy (Australia–India)[9]
- Richards-Botham Trophy, formerly the Wisden Trophy (England–West Indies)[10]
- Tangiwai Shield (New Zealand-South Africa)[11]
- Warne–Muralidaran Trophy (Australia–Sri Lanka)[12]
- Basil D'Oliveira Trophy (England–South Africa)[13]
- Pataudi Trophy (England–India Test Matches played in England)[14]
- Anthony de Mello Trophy (England–India Test Matches played in India)
- Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (South Africa–West Indies)[15]
- Sobers–Tissera Trophy (West Indies–Sri Lanka)[16]
- Freedom Trophy (India–South Africa)[17][18]
- Clive Lloyd Trophy (West Indies–Zimbabwe)[19]
- Benaud–Qadir Trophy (Australia–Pakistan)[20]
One-day series generally last from three to seven matches. T20 series last from one to five matches.
Tours may include a multi-team one-day tournament, often referred to as a "triangular" or "quadrangular" tournament. Teams play a round-robin format, often with teams playing each other twice. Points are awarded for wins, ties and no results, and some tournaments also award bonus points based on the margin of victory. There may be a final match played between the two teams with the most points from the round-robin stage.[21]
[22] International cricket by seasons
- International cricket in 2000
- International cricket in 2000–01
- International cricket in 2001
- International cricket in 2001–02
- International cricket in 2002
- International cricket in 2002–03
- International cricket in 2003
- International cricket in 2003–04
- International cricket in 2004
- International cricket in 2004–05
- International cricket in 2005
- International cricket in 2005–06
- International cricket in 2006
- International cricket in 2006–07
- International cricket in 2007
- International cricket in 2007–08
- International cricket in 2008
- International cricket in 2008–09
- International cricket in 2009
- International cricket in 2009–10
- International cricket in 2010
- International cricket in 2010–11
- International cricket in 2011
- International cricket in 2011–12
- International cricket in 2012
- International cricket in 2012–13
- International cricket in 2013
- International cricket in 2013–14
- International cricket in 2014
- International cricket in 2014–15
- International cricket in 2015
- International cricket in 2015–16
- International cricket in 2016
- International cricket in 2016–17
- International cricket in 2017
- International cricket in 2017–18
- International cricket in 2018
- International cricket in 2018–19
- International cricket in 2019
- International cricket in 2019–20
- International cricket in 2020
- International cricket in 2020–21
- International cricket in 2021
- International cricket in 2021–22
- International cricket in 2022
- International cricket in 2022–23
- International cricket in 2023
- International cricket in 2023–24
- International cricket in 2024
- International cricket in 2024–25
- International cricket in 2025
- International cricket in 2025–26
ICC Future Tours Programme
editIn 2001 the ICC decided to create a plan designed to make all ICC full member countries play each other for Test cricket over a period of ten years (known as the ICC Ten Year Plan). This was approved in February 2001 by the ICC member countries. Starting from 2002 and running until 2011, it ensured that each Test country played the other nine home and away over a period of ten years, in addition to any matches the individual cricket boards organised on their own. Thus, India and Pakistan played 12 ODIs and 6 Tests against each other in their respective countries (not including neutral ground ODI tournaments such as the Asia Cup) from 2004 to April 2005, and played a further series of 3 Tests and 5 ODIs in the winter of 2006. However, because of the rigorous schedule of the Ten Year Plan, there was hardly any time left over to schedule other series, and there were voices criticising the amount of international cricket that is played,[23] with the risk of injury and player burnout as reasons for why this amount should be reduced. The ICC defended their policy, citing the number of international players in English county cricket as a sign that there was not too much cricket for the players.[24]
Despite criticism of its original Ten Year Plan, the ICC created an ICC Future Tours Programme (or FTP for short). In the same way as for the Ten Year Plan, this is a schedule of international cricket tours which structure the programme of cricket for ICC full members, with an objective of each team playing each other at least once at home and once away over a period of 10 years. If the cricket boards of two individual countries reach an agreement, they can play more than two series. If a team doesn't want to travel to a particular country for a bilateral series due to security reasons, then, by the mutual agreement of the respective boards, that series can be shifted to a neutral venue or another country with appropriate facilities, such as in the United Arab Emirates. Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Team has played many of their home bilateral series on Emirati soil.[25]
Matches at neutral venues
editIn addition to tours, nations may organise one-day matches at neutral venues. The Sahara Cup was a one-day series played annually between India and Pakistan in Toronto, until the Indian government ordered the suspension of all cricketing ties with Pakistan because of the countries' hostile diplomatic situation. The BCCI revived ties in 2004. Similarly, a semiannual Triangular Tournament was organised at Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. However, the tournament has lost its lustre because the overwhelming number of cricket matches has spoiled the pitch.
In contrast to the one-dayers, Tests are almost never held in neutral venues. A once-off triangular Test tournament was held in England in 1912, which saw South Africa play Australia in three tests at neutral venues, but otherwise it has only been security risks which have seen Tests played on neutral soil. Most notably, Pakistan has "hosted" Test series in England, the UAE and Sri Lanka in the 21st century. Security implications have also affected tours to Sri Lanka and tours to Zimbabwe in the past. The final of the ICC World Test Championship is played at a neutral venue, and for its first three editions was played in England (England did not qualify for any of these finals).
ICC competitions
editMen's
editThe main men's international tournaments organized by the ICC are the ICC Men's World Test Championship, the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Australia is currently the most successful team overall with 10 ICC trophies, and also the only one to win all tournaments at least once.
The following table shows the events won by each team:
| Team | World Championships | World Cups | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC World Test Championship | ICC Champions Trophy | ICC Cricket World Cup | ICC T20 World Cup | ||
 Australia
|
1 (2023) | 2 (2006, 2009) | 6 (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023) | 1 (2021) | 10 |
 India
|
0 | 2 (2002[a], 2013) | 2 (1983, 2011) | 2 (2007, 2024) | 6 |
 West Indies
|
0 | 1 (2004) | 2 (1975, 1979) | 2 (2012, 2016) | 5 |
 Sri Lanka
|
0 | 1 (2002[a]) | 1 (1996) | 1 (2014) | 3 |
 Pakistan
|
0 | 1 (2017) | 1 (1992) | 1 (2009) | 3 |
 England
|
0 | 0 | 1 (2019) | 2 (2010, 2022) | 3 |
 New Zealand
|
1 (2021) | 1 (2000) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
 South Africa
|
0 | 1 (1998) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total played | 2 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 33 |
Women's
editThe main women's international tournaments organized by the ICC are the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, ICC Women's T20 World Cup and the ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy.
The following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | ICC Women's Cricket World Cup | ICC Women's T20 World Cup | ICC Women's Champions Trophy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia
|
7 (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2022) | 6 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023) | 13 | |
| England
|
4 (1973, 1993, 2009, 2017) | 1 (2009) | 5 | |
| New Zealand
|
1 (2000) | 1 (2024) | 2 | |
| West Indies
|
0 | 1 (2016) | 1 | |
| Total played | 12 | 8 | 20 |
Under-19 Men's
editThe main Under-19 men's international tournament organised by the ICC is the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
The following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|
| India
|
5 (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022) | 5 |
| Australia
|
4 (1988, 2002, 2010, 2024) | 4 |
| Pakistan
|
2 (2004, 2006) | 2 |
 Bangladesh
|
1 (2020) | 1 |
| South Africa
|
1 (2014) | 1 |
| West Indies
|
1 (2016) | 1 |
| England
|
1 (1998) | 1 |
| Total played | 15 | 15 |
Under-19 Women's
editThe main Under-19 women's international tournaments organized by the ICC is the U-19 T20 World Cup which is only played once so far.
The following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|
| India
|
1 (2023) | 1 |
| Total played | 1 | 1 |
ACC competitions
editMen's
editThe main men's international tournaments organised by the ACC is the Asia Cup and earlier the Asian Test Championship which is now defunct.
| Country/Team | Asia Cup | Asian Test Championship | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| India
|
8 (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023) | 0 | 8 |
| Sri Lanka
|
6 (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022) | 1 (2001–02) | 7 |
| Pakistan
|
2 (2000, 2012) | 1 (1998–99) | 3 |
| Total played | 16 | 2 | 18 |
Women's
editThe main women's international tournaments organised by the ACC is the Asia Cup.
| Country/Team | Women's Asia Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|
| India
|
7 (2004, 2005–06, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2022) | 7 |
| Bangladesh
|
1 (2018) | 1 |
| Sri Lanka
|
1 (2024) | 1 |
| Total played | 9 | 9 |
Under-19 Men's
editThe main u-19 men's international tournaments organized by the ACC is the U-19 Asia Cup.
The following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | Under-19 Asia Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|
| India
|
8 (1989, 2003, 2012, 2013–14, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021) | 8 |
| Pakistan
|
1 (2012) | 1 |
 Afghanistan
|
1 (2017) | 1 |
| Bangladesh
|
1 (2023) | 1 |
| Total played | 9 | 9 |
Other Competitions
editCricket at the Commonwealth Games
editMen's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | Commonwealth Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa
|
1 (1998) | 1 |
| Total played | 1 | 1 |
Women's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | Commonwealth Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Australia
|
1 (2022) | 1 |
| Total played | 1 | 1 |
Cricket at the Asian Games
editMen's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | Asian Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| India
|
1 (2022) | 1 |
| Sri Lanka
|
1 (2014) | 1 |
| Bangladesh
|
1 (2010) | 1 |
| Total played | 3 | 3 |
Women's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | Asian Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan
|
2 (2010, 2014) | 2 |
| India
|
1 (2022) | 1 |
| Total played | 3 | 3 |
Cricket at the South Asian Games
editMen's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | South Asian Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh
|
2 (2010, 2019) | 2 |
| Total played | 2 | 2 |
Women's
editThe following table show the events won by each team:
| Country/Team | South Asian Games | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh
|
1 (2019) | 1 |
| Total played | 1 | 1 |
ICC International rankings
editTest rankings
editIn essence, after every Test series, the two teams involved receive points based on a mathematical formula. The total of each team's points total is divided by the total number of matches to give a 'rating', and the Test-playing teams are by order of rating (this can be shown in a table).[26]
From 2002 to 2019, the top-ranked Test team was awarded with the ICC Test Championship mace and the top team at each 1 April cut-off (until 2019) was also awarded a cash prize, the winners of which are listed below. The mace is now awarded to the winners of the ICC World Test Championship.
| Country/Team | Test Mace Awarded |
|---|---|
| Australia
|
9 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016) |
| India
|
5 (2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019) |
| South Africa
|
3 (2013, 2014, 2015) |
| England
|
1 (2012) |
| Reference: ICC[27] | |
ODI rankings
editThe ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings were created, and are run, by the ICC for reasons similar to the Test Rankings. The rankings are simply an international ranking scheme overlaid on the regular ODI (One Day International) match schedule. After every ODI match, the two teams involved receive points based on a mathematical formula. The total of each team's points total is divided by the total number of matches to give a rating, and all teams are ranked on a table in order of rating.[28] The ranking does not replace the World Cup; the latter still carries much more significance to most cricket fans.
The ranking consisted two separate tables until merged into a single table in 2018. The ten ICC Full Members that play Test cricket were automatically listed on the main table while the six Associate Members with One Day International status were listed on a secondary table, but are eligible for promotion to the main table by meeting certain criteria.[29]
T20I rankings
editAs with the Test and ODI Rankings, the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings are an international Twenty20 ranking system run by the ICC. It is simply a ranking scheme overlaid on the regular T20I match schedule.[30] After every T20I match, the two teams involved receive points based on a mathematical formula. The total of each team's points total is divided by the total number of matches to give a rating, and all teams are ranked on a table in order of rating.[31][32] This ranking does not replace the ICC World Twenty20 competition.
Competitions for ICC Associate members
editCompetitions for member nations of the ICC with Associate status include:
ICC Cricket World Cup League 2
editIt featured seven teams: Scotland, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates were joined by the top four teams (Namibia, Oman, Papua New Guinea, United States) from the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.[33]
The top three teams advanced to the 2022 Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament, with the bottom four teams advancing to the 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.[34] All matches played as One Day Internationals (ODIs).[35] Each set of fixtures will take part as a tri-series.[36]
ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League
editThe Cricket World Cup Challenge League replaced the World Cricket League (WCL) which was previously used as the pathway to the Cricket World Cup.[36] The first fixtures took place in September 2019, with all matches having List A status.[37]
The league features the twelve teams ranked from 21st to 32nd place in the WCL following the conclusion of the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament in Namibia.[36] The twelve teams are split into two groups, with each group playing a six-team tournament three times on an annual basis.[36]
The top team in each group will advance to the Qualifier Play-off, taking place in 2022, which feeds into the 2022 Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.[35][38] The remaining ten teams will be eliminated from the 2023 World Cup.
ICC Intercontinental Cup
editThis allowed teams the chance to play first-class cricket matches against teams of similar skill in a competition environment, and prepared them for eventual promotion to Test cricket status.
Cricket World Cup Qualifier
editWorld Twenty20 Qualifier
editDefunct competitions
editWorld Cricket League
editThe ICC WCL (known as the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League for sponsorship reasons) was a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status, administered by the ICC.[39] All associate and affiliate members of the ICC were eligible to compete in the league system, which featured a promotion and relegation structure between divisions. The league system had two main aims: to provide a qualification system for the World Cup that can be accessed by all associate and affiliate members, and as an opportunity for those sides to play international one-day matches against teams of similar standards.
The top division of the WCL was known as the ICC World Cricket League Championship.
Since the WCL started in 2007, the final matches in the WCL have formed the ICC World Cup Qualifier competition. This competition dates back to 1979.
See also
edit
References
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- ^ "19th Century Cricket". International Cricket Council. Dubai. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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- ^ "Frank Worrell Trophy". Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Trans Tasman Trophy". Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Chappell–Hadlee Trophy". Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Border-Gavaskar Trophy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Wisden Trophy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Tangiwai Shield, commemorating 1953 rail disaster, to go to winners of NZ vs SA Test series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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- ^ Wisden Cricinfo staff. "D'Oliveira honoured by South Africa". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
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- ^ "Sobers-Tissera Trophy". nations.lk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Freedom Trophy: India vs South Africa series to be named after Gandhi and Mandela". Firstpost.com. September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ ESPN Cricinfo staff. "India, South Africa to play Gandhi-Mandela series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ Derrick Nicholas. Test trophy to be named after Clive Lloyd. ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "Pakistan and Australia to play for Benaud-Qadir Trophy". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Carlton Mid Triangular Series 2015 Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
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- ^ "Too much cricket hurting the game: Kapil Dev" from rediff.com, 20 March 2002. Retrieved 22 September 2005
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- ^ "Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings – frequently asked questions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "A retrospective: How the mace has changed hands". icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "Reliance ICC One-Day International Team Rankings -frequently asked questions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Associate & Affiliate Rankings". Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Twenty20 rankings launched with England on top". Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "David Richardson previews the release of the Reliance ICC T20I Rankings". Retrieved 24 October 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Reliance ICC T20 International Team Rankings – frequently asked questions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "The road to World Cup 2023: how teams can secure qualification, from rank No. 1 to 32". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "All to play for in last ever World Cricket League tournament". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ a b "New qualification pathway for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup approved". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualification Pathway frequently asked questions". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "The road to World Cup 2023: how teams can secure qualification, from rank No. 1 to 32". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "Xavier Marshall in USA squad for WCL Division Two". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ "About WCL | ICC World Cricket League Championship | Official Website". Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.