It’s been almost 150 years since its inception, but Test cricket still dishes out exhilarating battles between teams. With the first Test played in 1877, the format has evolved a lot, and many teams have joined along the memorable journey.
Over the years, teams have featured in many remarkable Test matches that have left an indelible mark on history.
This article will list the most Test matches played by a team.
Most Test Matches Played by a Team
| Team | Matches | Span |
|---|---|---|
| England | 1079 | 1877-2024 |
| Australia | 866 | 1877-2024 |
| India | 581 | 1932-2024 |
| West Indies | 580 | 1928-2024 |
| New Zealand | 472 | 1930-2024 |
| South Africa | 466 | 1889-2024 |
| Pakistan | 460 | 1952-2024 |
| Sri Lanka | 321 | 1982-2024 |
| Bangladesh | 146 | 2000-2024 |
| Zimbabwe | 118 | 1992-2024 |
| Afghanistan | 9 | 2018-2024 |
| Ireland | 9 | 2018-2024 |
Key Insights
Australia and England played the first-ever Test match, becoming the first 2 teams with Test status. The inaugural Test match took place between March 15 and 19, 1877, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, which would also host the first-ever ODI match in 1971.
England is the only team to have played more than 1000 Test matches. The English side played its 1000th Test at Birmingham against India on August 1, 2018.
Australia, India, and the West Indies are the other 3 teams to have played more than 500 Test matches.
Each full-member team has now registered at least one win in the longest format.
New Zealand took 45 Test matches to register their first Test victory — the most number of matches played to get off the mark. In contrast, Australia marked their first Test win in their first Test match itself and is the only team to win their inaugural Test match.
Australia and England are the only 2 teams to have won 300 or more Test matches, with Australia being the first to win 400 Tests. England is also the only team to lose more than 300 Test matches.
