Pioneers: The most influential cricket teams in history

Cricket has been around since the 16th century, which means different standout teams across eras. Dominant teams have been performing throughout the years, shaping the history of a great sport. Exploring the eras and teams can help you get a good grasp of cricket, the quality of the sport, and its best representatives.

Dive into the most influential cricket teams ever. Check them out below:

West Indies (1970s to 1990s)

Every time people talk about dominance in cricket, they never fail to talk about the West Indies from the latter decades of the 20th century. The national team was known for their focus on fast bowlers as they knew they had the power to make every opponent wary when they had to bat.

They won the first two Cricket World Cups in 1975 and 1979, setting the golden standard for all cricket teams. The West Indies always looked invincible during those times, which made them such a scary team to go against. Their fast bowlers were known for instilling fear in every opposing team.

Bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Michael Holding were focal points for the Caribbean cricketers. At the same time, they were also superb in the leadership and strategy sense as captains like Viv Richards made the team nigh-unbeatable.

Pakistan (1990s)

Through the eras of cricket, there have been many standout teams. However, they were never the most unpredictable to go against, which made Pakistan such a good team during the 1990s. This was headlined by their 1992 World Cup victory under captain Imran Khan.

Fast bowling was a big part of their game with names like Wasim Akram leading the charge. They were always wild cards, which made it tough to play and game plan against them. That fearless play style has bled into the modern era across different teams, but Pakistan was the starting point for that kind of team.

As one of the most talented groups of cricket athletes, Pakistan’s 1990s era remains iconic. Cricket fans who want to learn about Pakistan's prime, the 1990s is always the era they go back to. They are still a decent team today, but they will have to be lucky to get this kind of success again.

Australia (1999 to 2007)

Ahead of the 21st century, Australia started to establish themselves as the world’s best cricketing country. During these eight years, they earned two separate 16-match winning streaks in Test cricket. They also won three consecutive World Cups, going unbeaten in 2003 and 2007.

Ricky Ponting was the obvious standout player during this era, but he had some help with players like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and Matthew Hayden. This Australian era is arguably the pinnacle of competitive cricket, which could be argued against, but it cannot be denied that they were superb during this time.

India (2016 to the present)

Every cricket fan in the world knows that India is well-known for their intense passion for cricket. It has been a top country for a long time as they see cricket as one of the country’s biggest sports. The cricket community in the country is comparable to what you see with football worldwide.

That is the level of passion for cricket from Indians. With that kind of love and passion, it was obvious that more Indian athletes would dive into cricket. They did so and have continued to produce the best talents in the sport’s history.

With names like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and more, India has won plenty of trophies through the years. You can never go wrong with picking India as a top cricketing country as they have unlocked their potential. They continue to have strong players in their development pipeline, and they will keep progressing with their tactics as the years go by.

Cricket will keep evolving

The sport of cricket has produced remarkable moments throughout its history. Every country that has stood out in cricket has earned their way to becoming the best nation in the world. There are now established cricket titans like the aforementioned teams, but there is room for improvement and evolution that could take fresh faces to the top.

Teams like New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland are mainstays of the cricket tournaments. However, there might be untapped potential that could make them the next nation to become a top team. The future is bright for cricket, and it will only keep growing from here.

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Why India’s batting lineup is a nightmare for opponents

India has always been a powerhouse in cricket, and today’s team remains superb. They are stellar across the squad, but the batsmen are probably their biggest strength. This was evident during their winning run in the 2025 Champions Trophy. With almost every batsman, India had a world-class player, making it such a terrifying opponent.

The batsmen are always confident

Every time the batsmen step up for India, they showcase the team’s superb dominance. Once they show their confidence, it will be tough for the opponents to chip away at that. Players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill are always prepared to show why India is one of the best teams.

That duo of the veteran and young star helps stabilise the team. That kind of quality proves India is a strong team as they would have players like Kohli and younger players who are determined to showcase their talent.

With the confidence they showed in every game across all the formats, India has one of the best batting lineups. For them, no team is better as they see India the best due to their sheer talent.

India has a good mix of experience and youth

The Indian cricket team is already known for its quality, but that stretches all over the system. They have talented veterans leading the charge, but they also have eager young players who want to prove themselves.

Players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still playing for the team despite being older veterans. Despite this, they are still producing at a high level, as they set the tone in the big matches. Kohli’s calm under pressure and Sharma’s aggression are what make them stand out in the team.

Younger players like Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal represent the new generation. Their youth is superb, especially with how consistent they are with their batting. At the same time, that youthful energy is present when looking at the aggression with their batting. Even if they have world-class bowlers against them, India has dominated, which Gill has spoken about.

He said, ‘The depth in our batting helps free up the batters at the top. We can play freely because we know we have the depth. This is one thing we used to struggle with earlier. We didn't have the batting depth, so the pressure on the top order was more to score more and stay longer. But I think the depth allows us to play more freely’.

India thrives across all three formats

Batters from India have a rare ability to perform well across One-Day International, Test, and T20 cricket formats. Considering they can adjust to any situation, that makes India such a tough matchup.

There are plenty of countries that can do this, but they cannot reach the same level of success as India has. In Test cricket, they have shown they can be adaptable in tough conditions. Since Test cricket is a long fixture, the batsmen doing this makes them even tougher to play against.

India has a great balance between skill and smarts when they play ODI cricket. With the veterans leading the way, they know the right time to turn it up and dominate the bowlers they’re playing against.

In T20, they don’t need to pace themselves as they have multiple power-hitters. India can chase down or set high targets. Aggression is the biggest trait needed in T20 cricket, and the Indian players are ready to keep playing at the highest level.

Game-changing players are present

Across the Indian cricket system, the team has superb players who can be considered match-winners. They can turn games on their head with their batting, which makes the team hard to play and scheme against.

Here are some players who are known for their game-changing qualities:

Virat Kohli - Whenever India has a target to hit, Kohli’s batting helps the team to get those numbers. He is a powerful and smart batsman, which makes him a tough matchup for any bowler.
Shubman Gill - For such a young batsman, Gill is already one of the most composed hitters in the sport. That unsettles the opponent bowlers as they can never throw him off his game.
Hardik Pandya - Arguably the most powerful batsman in the squad, he helps India finish matches on a high note. With Pandya’s power, India becomes a tougher matchup as they always put the pressure on.

India will keep improving with time

What makes India a good team is they constantly produce high-level talent that could surpass any team and player around the world. They might have Kohli leading the way for his generation, but he gets quickly followed up by a top talent like Gill.

India has an embarrassment of riches with their cricket talent since they always find a way to unearth great talents, especially with the batting department. The current crop of players is influential enough to the next generation, so youngsters will still climb the ranks and become the successors.

Gill, in particular, has talked about what it’s like playing alongside some greats from India. He said, ‘This is the best batting lineup that I have been a part of. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli I think are the all-time one-day greats in the world. Rohit, one of the best openers in white-ball cricket, and Virat, I don’t think I need to say anything about him’.

Now that India has continued to get big wins, players like Gill will also help inspire the next generation. It is a production line of top-tier batsman talent, and other countries must do their best to beat them.

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From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at Sydney Cricket Ground

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of the oldest sport stadiums located in the Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1948, the Sydney Cricket Ground is owned and operated by Venues NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The SCG has a seating capacity of 48,000.

It is the home ground of the Australia cricket team, New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Sixers of the Big Bash League.

The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between arch-rivals Australia and England in February 1882. The Billy Murdoch-led Australia won the Ashes Test by five wickets.

Since then, it has staged more than 110 Tests so far. With that being said, let’s have a look at the Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats.

Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats

Highest total

The India cricket team registered the highest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the fourth Test of India’s tour of Australia in January 2004, the Sourav Ganguly-led visitors posted a mammoth total of 705/7d after opting to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 241, VVS Laxman’s 178 along with contributions from Virender Sehwag (72), Parthiv Patel (62), Aakash Chopra (45) and Rahul Dravid (38) helped India post the highest Test total at the venue. India later bowled out Australia for 474 and then declared their second innings at 211/2. Chasing 443, Australia were 357/6 in the fourth innings as the match later ended in a draw.

Lowest total

The Australia cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888, the hosts were bundled out for 42 in their first innings after England scored 113. Tom Garrett top-scored for Australia with 10. For England, left-arm spinner Bobby Peel bagged six wickets while right-arm pacer George Lohmann picked up five wickets. England later managed 137 in their second innings. Australia were later bowled out for 82 while chasing 209 as England won the Sydney Test by 126 runs.

Most runs

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Sydney. Between 1996 and 2012, Ricky Ponting amassed 1,480 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 67.27. The former right-handed batter slammed six centuries and as many fifties at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Australia cricket legend Allan Border features second on the list with 1,177 runs in 17 matches at an average of 56.04.

Most wickets

Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne bagged the most wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner claimed 64 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of 28.12 between 1992 and 2007. Warne recorded four four-wicket hauls and four fifers at this venue in Sydney in Test cricket. His former teammate Stuart MacGill is second on the list with 53 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 24.47.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at No. 5, Michael Clarke slammed an unbeaten 329 against India in their first innings of the second Test in Sydney in January 2012. Michael Clarke’s magnificent triple century was laced with 39 fours and one six to help Australia post 659/4d after India were skittled out for 191 in their first innings. India were bowled out for 400 in their second innings as Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 68 runs.

Best bowling figures in an innings

England pacer George Lohmann registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in February 1887. The former right-arm medium fast recorded match-winning figures of 8/35 to help England bowl out Australia for 84 in their first innings of the second Test at the iconic SCG. George Lohmann dismissed John Lyons, Walter Giffen, Reginald Allen, captain Percy McDonnell, Billy Midwinter, John Cottam , Tom Garrett and J.J. Ferris. Lohmann’s magnificent spell helped England register a 71-run victory in Sydney.

Best bowling figures in a match

Former Australia cricketer Charlie Turner holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Charlie Turner took 12 wickets during the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888. While Turner picked up five wickets for 44 runs in the first innings, the right-arm pacer claimed seven wickets for 43 runs in the second innings. Turner’s incredible bowling performance went in vain as England won the Test by 126 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Australia cricketers Don Bradman and Sid Barnes recorded the highest partnership at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the second Test of England’s tour of Australia in December 1946, Don Bradman and Sid Barnes stitched an incredible 405-run stand for the fifth wicket to power Australia to 659/8d in their first innings. Opening the innings, Sid Barnes scored 234 while Don Bradman slammed 234 batting at No.6. Under the leadership of Bradman, Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 33 runs

Photo credit: Imago

ICC Champions Trophy winners list: India, Australia feature on top

The ICC Champions Trophy is a marquee cricket tournament that is played in One-Day International (ODI) format.

Previously named the ICC KnockOut Trophy, the ICC Champions Trophy was introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1998.

The ICC Champions Trophy was launched in order to raise funds for the development of the sport in non-Test playing countries.

The inaugural edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was held in Bangladesh in June 1998. A total of nine teams participated. South Africa later won the first edition of the tournament after defeating West Indies by four wickets in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

In a bid to increase the popularity of the game in ICC Associate member nations, the second edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was staged in Kenya in 2000.

New Zealand were crowned champions after they beat India by four wickets in the 2000 final to claim their maiden ICC title.

Since 2002, the hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy has been shared between countries under an unofficial rotation system with six ICC members having staged at least one match in the tournament.

It is also often dubbed the "Mini World Cup" as it involved all of the full members of the ICC from the 2002 tournament onwards.

India and Sri Lanka shared the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 after the final was abandoned due to rain on two occasions.

The ICC Champions Trophy current format involves a qualification phase. It is held in the preceding edition of the Cricket World Cup to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase.

Australia and India are the most successful teams in the ICC Champions Trophy history with two titles each. South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan have clinched the trophy once each.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy after they beat archrivals India by 180 runs in the 2017 final at The Oval in London.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Get ICC Champions Trophy winners list.

ICC Champions Trophy winners list: Know all the champions from 1998-2025

Year	Host Nation(s)	Winner	Runner-up
1998	Bangladesh	South Africa	West Indies
2000	Kenya	New Zealand	India
2002	Sri Lanka	India and Sri Lanka shared trophy
2004	England	West Indies	England
2006	India	Australia	West Indies
2009	South Africa	Australia	New Zealand
2013	England and Wales	India	England
2017	England and Wales	Pakistan	India
2025	Pakistan and United Arab Emirates	TBD	TBD

Most successful teams in ICC Champions Trophy: By each country

Team	Titles	Winning Year(s)
India	2	2002, 2013
Australia	2	2006, 2009
South Africa	1	1998
New Zealand	1	2000
Sri Lanka	1	2002
West Indies	1	2004
Pakistan	1	2017

Photo credit: Imago

From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at SuperSport Park in Centurion

The SuperSport Park, located in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa, is one of the most renowned cricket grounds in the world.

Originally named Centurion Park, the cricket venue is popularly known as SuperSport Park after television company SuperSport bought shares in the stadium.

Known for its state-of-the-art facilities, the Centurion cricket ground features Beach Cabana type hospitality chalets on the grass banks. It has a beautiful outfield with modern drainage facilities.

With a seating capacity of 22,000, the SuperSport Park is the home ground of the South African cricket team, Titans cricket team and SA20’s Pretoria Capitals.

It staged its first international match, a one-day International (ODI) between hosts South Africa and India in December 1992. India won the match by four wickets.

The SuperSport Park later hosted its first Test match played between South Africa and England in November 1995. The match ended in a draw.

Since then, it has staged 28 Test matches till date. Let’s have a closer look at the SuperSport Park Test records and stats.