[1] The season saw the launch of the ICC T20I Championship in October 2011.
England, the reigning ICC World Twenty20 champions, were ranked number one.
[2] England had their first defences of the ICC Test Championship number-one ranking they acquired at home in August 2011.
While they retained the spot throughout the season,[3][4] they showed their weaknesses in Asian conditions as they were whitewashed in a three-Test series against Pakistan.
[5] Australia were the best ranked in the ICC ODI Championship throughout the season but their rating dropped from 130 to 123 after average performances in the season.