The rankings are based on international matches that are otherwise played as part of regular Test cricket scheduling, with no consideration of home or away status.

[1] The team that was top of the ratings table on 1 April each year also won a cash prize.

However, from 2009, several teams (Australia, South Africa, India, England, New Zealand, and Pakistan) have competed for the top positions.

The table only begins then, as prior to 1952 there is insufficient data available due to the infrequency of matches and the small number of competing teams in these earlier periods.

[3] The teams that have successively held the highest rating from January 1952 until May 2003, by whole month periods are: The summary of teams that have held the highest rating from 1952 to the present by whole month periods are: The rankings system was called ICC Test Championship, until the inauguration of ICC World Test Championship in 2019.

This happens overnight, so can result in teams changing positions in the ranking table despite no one playing.