Stats: Instances when the No.1 ranked Test team lost a Test series

Australia’s Test series loss in Sri Lanka against hosts is only the 11th instance of a team losing a Test series as No.1 ranked team since the start of ICC Test team ranking in June 2003.

In fact, this is the fifth time Australia lost a Test series as No.1 Test side. Adding insult to injury, this is the first time a No.1 ranked team lost a series to a No.7 or lower ranked team. South Africa’s series loss against No.6 ranked England earlier this year at home was the first instance of a No.1 ranked team losing a series to No.6 or lower ranked team in Tests.

If Sri Lanka manage to clean sweep Australia, they will be the 3rd team after England and Pakistan to clean sweep a No.1 Test side in a series. England clean swept India 4-0 at home in 2011 later Pakistan clean swept the English team in 3-match series in 2012 in UAE.

England had been hosts for 4 Test series in which No.1 Test side ended on losing cause. Australia was on the losing side on 2 occasions.

Also check out – Stats: The Australia left-arm spinning dilemma

Here are the instances when the No.1 ranked Test team lost a Test series: