Test Cricket World Champions

The Disputed Years 1980-84

At the end of 1979 England, the then World Champions, flew to Australia to play a three test series. At the same time Australia also played a series against the West Indies. Both series took place at the same time with the West Indian series starting first. The "standard" World Championship looks at the score when a series finishes to determine the winner and, as the series between Australia and the West Indies ended first, it does not count towards the championship.

However by the end of the second test against England in January, Australia were already 2-0 up in the series. It could be argued therefore that they were already World Champions when they played the West Indies in the third test two weeks later.

If that were so a rather different pattern emerges which briefly sees New Zealand holding their only title......

World Champions by beating... Successful defences
1979/80 Australia England 3-0 nil
1979/80 West Indies Australia 2-0 nil
1979/80 New Zealand West Indies 1-0 nil
1980/81 Australia New Zealand 2-0 India 1-1 (1980/1)
1981 England Australia 3-1 nil
1981/2 India England 1-0 nil
1982 England India 1-0 Pakistan 2-1 (1982)
1982/3 Australia England 2-1 Sri Lanka 1-0 (1982/3), Pakistan 2-0 (1983/4)
1983/4-1994/5 West Indies Australia 3-0
(The "reunification" series)		 England 5-0 (1984); Australia 3-1 (1984/5); New Zealand 2-0 (1984/5); England 5-0 (1985/6); Pakistan 1-1 (1986/7); New Zealand 1-1 (1986/7); India 1-1 (1987/8); Pakistan 1-1 (1987/8); England 4-0 (1988); Australia 3-1 (1988/9); India 3-0 (1988/9); England 2-1 (1989/90); Pakistan 1-1 (1990/1); Australia 2-1 (1990/1); England 2-2 (1991); South Africa 1-0 (1991/2); Australia 2-1 (1992/3); Pakistan 2-0 (1992/3); Sri Lanka 0-0 (1993/4); England 3-1 (1993/4); India 1-1 (1994/5); New Zealand 1-0 (1994/5)

Highlights, facts and figures

Complete "ladder"

Back to introduction

I would be delighted to receive comments on these ideas. Please eMail me (john.birch@ukonline.co.uk).

Compiled by John Birch, Letchworth Garden City, England

Last amended: December 24, 2001