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:
| Country | Opposition | Host Country | Month-Year | Rank of opposition | Series Margin |
| Australia | England | England | Jul-05 | 2 | 1-2 (5) |
| Australia | India | India | Oct-08 | 3 | 0-2 (4) |
| Australia | South Africa | Australia | Dec-08 | 2 | 1-2 (3) |
| Australia | England | England | Jul-09 | 5 | 1-2 (5) |
| India | England | England | Jul-11 | 3 | 0-4 (4) |
| England | Pakistan | UAE | Jan-12 | 5 | 0-3 (3) |
| England | South Africa | England | Jul-12 | 2 | 0-2 (3) |
| South Africa | Australia | South Africa | Feb-14 | 3 | 1-2 (3) |
| South Africa | India | India | Nov-15 | 5 | 0-3 (4) |
| South Africa | England | South Africa | Dec-15 | 6 | 1-2 (3) |
| Australia | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Jul-16 | 7 | 0-2 (2)* |
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