Special Sub-Topic: Testing Times: Results of 2003 Click Here To Play: Testing Times: Results of 2003

Who won the most Test matches in 2003?

Australia. Australia won 8 of 12 matches. South Africa won 7 out of 12, England 7 of 13 and Pakistan 5 out of 6.

New Zealand only lost one Test match in 2003. How many did it win?

0. New Zealand played 2 matches each against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for 1 loss against Pakistan and 5 draws. As an Australian used to watching a side that hates draws and nearly always wins, I couldn't cope being a Kiwi watching that many 'no results.'

Only one team did not play in a drawn test match. Which team was it?

Bangladesh. Bangladesh lost ALL 9 of the matches it played in 2003. As I said earlier Australia hates draws ( the current team holds the record for 16 consecutive test wins)but got beaten by the weather in Brisbane. Zimbabwe managed a draw against the West Indies to stop their run of losses ( 5 for the year). Sri Lanka, like New Zealand, bored its fans with 5 draws.

India played only 5 tests in 2003 for one win. Who did they defeat?

Australia. India seems to love playing Australia, beating them in 2002 in India before winning again in Adelaide. In both series they were beaten by a 300 run partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. The only other team they played in 2003 was New Zealand (yes, 2 draws -yawn). Based on The record of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, they probably wished they did play those two teams.

With one win for the year, Sri Lanka managed to have a series win against one of the 3 countries it played. Who did they defeat?

England. Yes, the kings of drawn Test matches, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, played out 2 draws. The West Indies actually beat them in a series and they missed out on playing Bangladesh for the automatic victory. They had one draw and one win against England, mainly due to bowling legend Muttiah Muralitharan. Problem is, it's hard to win matches with only one good bowler, even if he is a champ.

Which of these four teams lost a test match in their own country in 2003?

Australia. Despite being rated clearly the best team in the world, Australia actually lost 2 matches at home in 2003. Australia lost a dead rubber against England in Sydney at the end of the 2002/3 Ashes series and lost in Adelaide to India in December. South Africa won 3 out of 3,Pakistan had 4 wins and a draw. Sri Lanka didn't lose but didn't win many either, with only one win to go with 4 draws at home.

Which Test team did the West Indies not have a win against in 2003?

South Africa. Following a common trend against Australia, the West Indies beat the Aussies after losing the first three test matches against them. (Australia has a history of losing dead matches - ask an English supporter). They had a win and a draw against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. South Africa beat them twice.

Which team had the best win/loss ratio for the year (not including drawn Test matches)?

Pakistan. Pakistan had a win/loss ratio of 83.33% with 5 wins and only 1 loss. Australia was next with 72.7% with 8 wins and 3 losses. South Africa and England both had 7 wins and 3 losses for a 70% result.

Who played in the most Test matches in 2003?

England. England played 13 matches, south Africa and Australia both played 12 and the West Indies played 10. At the other end of the scale was India, who only played 5 matches.

Which two Test teams contested the only 5 match test series played entirely in 2003?

England and South Africa. England and Australia COMPLETED a five test series in January but four of those matches were played in November/December 2002. Australia used to play five Test series against the West Indies when "the Windies" were a top side but recently they have played one sided 4 match series. Australia played India in a four test series but are considering 5 match series against them as their contests have become highlights on the cricket calendar.