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England, the nation where cricket first began, have been part of historic matches in the longest format ever since the first official Test match was played against Australia in 1877.
Not long after, in 1882, Australia’s win at The Oval kickstarted one of the oldest sporting rivalries in the form of the Ashes, now an annual affair between the two sides alternating as hosts.
Over the years, the country has produced one great cricketer after another with generations passing by. Sportskeeda looks back on their Test match records against each of the other Test playing nations so far.
Bangladesh
Played – 10, Won – 9, Lost – 1, Drawn – 0, Win Percentage – 90.00%
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Bangladesh have been in the Test fold since the beginning of the century, but have, unfortunately, played only 10 Test matches against England. The last time the sides met, however, the rising Bangladesh unit showed that they were no pushovers by bowling out England for 164 in a chase of 273 – that, after England were 100 for no loss at one stage.
That first win in Dhaka in October 2016, though, did not prove enough to convince the ECB to schedule a Test in England for the first time since 2010 when the 2018 summer was being drawn up, rather than call Pakistan again after last hosting them only in 2016.
Aside from that, England have registered 9 wins out of 10 against Bangladesh, though one of them, in the first Test of the aforementioned series, was by only 22 runs.
Zimbabwe
Played – 6, Won – 3, Lost – 3, Drawn – 0, Win Percentage – 50.00%
It will be hard to recall when England and Zimbabwe last played a Test match against each other. Nevertheless, records have it that it was just after the 2003 World Cup that that had last happened – a time when Nasser Hussain was England’s captain and James Anderson was on Test debut in the first match of that series.
Little has happened between the sides ever since even in the other formats, and a refusal from some of England’s players to tour Zimbabwe in 2004 brought Kevin Pietersen his international debut (the rest, as they say, is history).
In total, only 6 Tests since their first meeting in 1996 shows the lack of competitiveness between the teams, with three draws and three England wins completing the set.
New Zealand
Played – 101, Won – 48, Lost – 9, Drawn – 44, Win Percentage – 47.52%
England and New Zealand have also been equally competitive as some of the other top Test teams, and clearly, England hold a massive advantage over the Black Caps in the longest format. Out of 101 Tests, New Zealand have been victorious only 9 times, leaving England with a healthy win percentage of 47.52.
England and New Zealand last played a Test series in 2015, which was drawn 1-1. About to lock horns again come the following week, they will also be engaging in a day-night Test, slowly becoming a routine fixture among sides, though this will be the first between these two, also being the first on New Zealand soil.
South Africa
Played – 149, Won – 61, Lost – 33, Drawn – 55, Win Percentage – 40.94%
Yet another rivalry full of intense competition from both sides, England have a relatively better record against South Africa than any other side apart from New Zealand. Unfortunately, apartheid and major political issues denied South Africa to showcase their talent at the highest stage for years, but once they returned to the game, their Test matches against England brought more interest than some of the other series did.
The battle between Michael Atherton and Allan Donald at Trent Bridge in 1998 is part of cricketing heritage; the latest pair to have somewhat emulated it is that of Ben Stokes and Kagiso Rabada, with the latter having already dismissed the former four times.
A win percentage over 40 always makes for a good stat in Test match cricket, and England did well to ensure that they defeated South Africa 3-1 at home in 2017, thus marking the first instance of the home side winning a Test series between them since 1999-00.
The teams now compete for the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy since England’s tour to South Africa in 2004-05.
Sri Lanka
Played – 31, Won – 12, Lost – 8, Drawn – 11, Win Percentage – 38.71%
One may not regard Sri Lanka as the force they once were during the days of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara et al, but they have certainly given England a run for their money in the past.
The most famous of those clashes came in 2014 when a two-match series went 1-0 in favour of the visiting Sri Lankan side. The first Test was drawn but just so in the final moments, while the next one also went down to the wire with England a handful of deliveries away from securing a draw.
Though Sri Lanka couldn’t repeat their heroics two years later, it is a shame that the last time England played a Test series in Sri Lanka was back in 2012 – it would be further harsh to remind the ECB that one of the architects of England's win to level the series was Kevin Pietersen with a century. Overall, England have a respectable record against their Asian rivals with a win percentage of 38.71.
India
Played – 117, Won – 43, Lost – 25, Drawn – 49, Win Percentage – 36.75%
A trophy named after the greats Anthony de Mello and MAK Pataudi each time the teams play in India and England respectively, both sides go back a long way in battling it out in the longest format.
Since India’s first Test match under CK Nayudu on English soil in 1932 to their last series against England at home in 2016, they have played in a total of 117 Tests so far, with England clearly ahead with 43 victories as compared to India’s 25.
In fact, since 2014, both boards have committed to playing a five-Test series each time they meet. It was only in 2016 that England lost a Test series against India for the first time since 2008: they were winners twice at home in 2011 and 2014, having also beaten India in their own backyard in 2012.
Yet another intriguing encounter awaits the fans with England due to host India for five Tests in their upcoming home summer of 2018.
Australia
Played – 346, Won – 108, Lost – 144, Drawn – 94, Win Percentage – 31.21%
It is rarely surprising that England have played more Test matches against Australia than any other nation – in fact, next on the list come the West Indies with less than half the number – and it also not surprising to see England have a slight disadvantage over their fiercest rivals.
Right since the days of the “Invincibles” and then on to Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and company, Australia have maintained supremacy over England; but famously, the Englishmen went on to clinch three Ashes series in a row beginning 2009, then 2010-11 and also 2013.
Both incumbent captains, Joe Root and Steven Smith, are regarded as part of the “Fab Four” of modern batsmen, while Mitchell Starc, James Anderson and their respective pace bowling partners have kept alive both countries’ tradition of producing lethal pace bowlers.
The next Ashes is due for 2019, but until then, Australia will remain in possession of the urn courtesy of a 4-0 win Down Under in 2017-18.
West Indies
Played – 154, Won – 48, Lost – 55, Drawn – 51, Win Percentage – 31.17%
A nation certainly in the decline as far as Test match cricket is concerned, West Indies, who were the kings of cricket, had given England a hard time when they were the rulers of the sport.
Stories like that of the renowned “Blackwash”, and of the deadly fast bowlers Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and others breaking one English bone after another seem like two centuries old; contrastingly, the West Indies have struggled to give England competition with a performance of note coming only in patches.
Such has been England’s dominance over West Indies since the turn of the century that before a shocking win at Headingley in 2017, their last Test victory in England came as far back as in the year 2000. However, England would still need a couple of wins in order to draw level with their Caribbean rivals.
Pakistan
Played – 81, Won – 23, Lost – 20, Drawn – 38, Win Percentage – 28.40%
The first two big names – or rivals – who come to mind on thinking of England and Pakistan as Test cricketing nations are Ian Botham and Imran Khan, respectively. Two of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game – incidentally, they played in the same era as well – they showed what true grit and determination could do on the field.
Before them too, the two countries had the privilege of having fantastic men competing against each other, just like they also have after them.
In October 2015, Alastair Cook batted and batted for 263 in the killer heat of Abu Dhabi to grind Pakistan down; and come the English summer of 2016, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in a four-Test series, a tournament regarded to be one of the best in recent times.
It is a close 23-20 in favour of England as of now, but that is something which the talent of Pakistan’s men can overturn very quickly.
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