The core principle is that the Lineal Test Cricket Champions is a Title held by a national team (the first such team being Australia, winners of the first decisive test series in 1878/79), until that team is defeated in a series (or a one-off test), at which point it passes to their vanquishers.
This table has been developed by the excellent King Cricket blog and lists those series where the Lineal Test Cricket Champions Title was contested.
| Holder | Challenger | Series Year | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 246 | England | India | 2025 | |
| 245 | New Zealand | England | 2024 | England |
| 244 | India | New Zealand | 2024 | New Zealand |
| 243 | India | Bangladesh | 2024 | India |
| 242 | England | India | 2023/24 | India |
| 241 | England | Australia | 2023 | Drawn |
| 240 | England | Ireland | 2023 | England |
| 239 | England | New Zealand | 2022/23 | Drawn |
| 238 | England | Pakistan | 2022/23 | England |
| 237 | South Africa | England | 2022 | England |
| 236 | South Africa | Bangladesh | 2021/22 | South Africa |
| 235 | South Africa | New Zealand | 2021/22 | Drawn |
| 234 | India | South Africa | 2021/22 | South Africa |
| 233 | New Zealand | India | 2021/22 | India |
| 232 | New Zealand | India | 2021 | New Zealand |
| 231 | New Zealand | England | 2021 | New Zealand |
| 230 | New Zealand | Pakistan | 2020/21 | New Zealand |
| 229 | New Zealand | West Indies | 2020/21 | New Zealand |
| 228 | India | New Zealand | 2019/20 | New Zealand |
| 227 | India | South Africa | 2019/20 | India |
| 226 | West Indies | India | 2019 | India |
| 225 | England | West Indies | 2018/19 | West Indies |
| 224 | Sri Lanka | England | 2018/19 | England |
| 223 | South Africa | Sri Lanka | 2018 | Sri Lanka |
| 222 | Australia | South Africa | 2017/18 | South Africa |
| 221 | England | Australia | 2017/18 | Australia |
| 220 | England | West Indies | 2017 | England |
| 219 | South Africa | England | 2017 | England |
| 218 | New Zealand | South Africa | 2016/17 | South Africa |
| 217 | New Zealand | Bangladesh | 2016/17 | New Zealand |
| 216 | Pakistan | New Zealand | 2016/17 | New Zealand |
| 215 | Pakistan | West Indies | 2016/17 | Pakistan |
| 214 | Pakistan | England | 2016 | Drawn |
| 213 | Pakistan | England | 2015/16 | Pakistan |
| 212 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 2015 | Pakistan |
| 211 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | 2015 | Pakistan |
| 210 | Pakistan | New Zealand | 2014/15 | Drawn |
| 209 | Australia | Pakistan | 2014/15 | Pakistan |
| 208 | South Africa | Australia | 2014/14 | Australia |
| 207 | India | South Africa | 2013/14 | South Africa |
| 206 | India | West Indies | 2013/14 | India |
| 205 | Australia | India | 2012/13 | India |
| 204 | Sri Lanka | Australia | 2012/13 | Australia |
| 203 | Sri Lanka | New Zealand | 2012/13 | Drawn |
| 202 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 2012 | Sri Lanka |
| 201 | England | Pakistan | 2011/12 | Pakistan |
| 200 | India | England | 2011 | England |
| 199 | India | West Indies | 2011 | India |
| 198 | India | South Africa | 2010/11 | Drawn |
| 197 | India | New Zealand | 2010/11 | India |
| 196 | India | Australia | 2010/11 | India |
| 195 | India | Sri Lanka | 2010 | Drawn |
| 194 | india | South Africa | 2009/10 | Drawn |
| 193 | India | Bangladesh | 2009/10 | India |
| 192 | India | Sri Lanka | 2009/10 | India |
| 191 | India | New Zealand | 2008/09 | India |
| 190 | Australia | India | 2008/09 | India |
| 189 | Australia | West Indies | 2008 | Australia |
| 188 | Australia | India | 2007/08 | Australia |
| 187 | Australia | Sri Lanka | 2007/07 | Australia |
| 186 | England | Australia | 2006/06 | Australia |
| 185 | Pakistan | England | 2006 | England |
| 184 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 2005/05 | Pakistan |
| 183 | Pakistan | India | 2005/05 | Pakistan |
| 182 | England | Pakistan | 2005/06 | Pakistan |
| 181 | Australia | England | 2005 | England |
| 180 | Australia | New Zealand | 2004/05 | Australia |
| 179 | Australia | Pakistan | 2004/05 | Australia |
| 178 | Australia | India | 2004/05 | Australia |
| 177 | Australia | Sri Lanka | 2004 | Australia |
| 176 | Australia | Sri Lanka | 2003/03 | Australia |
| 175 | Australia | India | 2003/04 | Drawn |
| 174 | Australia | Zimbabwe | 2003/04 | Australia |
| 173 | Australia | Bangladesh | 2003 | Australia |
| 172 | Australia | West Indies | 2003 | Australia |
| 171 | England | Australia | 2002/03 | Australia |
| 170 | England | India | 2002 | Drawn |
| 169 | Sri Lanka | England | 2002 | England |
| 168 | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2001/02 | Sri Lanka |
| 167 | Sri Lanka | West Indies | 2001/02 | Sri Lanka |
| 166 | India | Sri Lanka | 2001 | Sri Lanka |
| 165 | India | Zimbabwe | 2001 | Drawn |
| 164 | Australia | India | 2000/01 | India |
| 163 | Australia | West Indies | 2000/01 | Australia |
| 162 | Australia | New Zealand | 1999/00 | Australia |
| 161 | Australia | India | 1999/00 | Australia |
| 160 | Australia | Pakistan | 1999/00 | Australia |
| 159 | Zimbabwe | Australia | 1999/00 | Australia |
| 158 | Zimbabwe | Pakistan | 1998/99 | Zimbabwe |
| 157 | India | Zimbabwe | 1998/99 | Zimbabwe |
| 156 | Australia | India | 1997/98 | India |
| 155 | Australia | South Africa | 1997/98 | Australia |
| 154 | Australia | New Zealand | 1997/98 | Australia |
| 153 | Australia | England | 1997 | Australia |
| 152 | South Africa | Australia | 1996/97 | Australia |
| 151 | India | South Africa | 1996/97 | South Africa |
| 150 | India | South Africa | 1996/97 | India |
| 149 | Australia | India | 1996/97 | India |
| 148 | Australia | Sri Lanka | 1995/96 | Australia |
| 147 | Australia | Pakistan | 1995/96 | Australia |
| 146 | West Indies | Australia | 1994/95 | Australia |
| 145 | West Indies | New Zealand | 1994/95 | West Indies |
| 144 | West Indies | India | 1994/95 | Drawn |
| 143 | West Indies | England | 1993/94 | West Indies |
| 142 | West Indies | Sri Lanka | 1993/94 | Drawn |
| 141 | West Indies | Pakistan | 1992/93 | West Indies |
| 140 | West Indies | Australia | 1992/92 | West Indies |
| 139 | West Indies | South Africa | 1991/92 | West Indies |
| 138 | West Indies | England | 1991 | Drawn |
| 137 | West Indies | Australia | 1990/91 | West Indies |
| 136 | West Indies | Pakistan | 1990/91 | Drawn |
| 135 | West Indies | England | 1989/90 | West Indies |
| 134 | West Indies | India | 1988/89 | West Indies |
| 133 | West Indies | Australia | 1988/89 | West Indies |
| 132 | West Indies | England | 1988 | West Indies |
| 131 | West Indies | Pakistan | 1987/88 | Drawn |
| 130 | West Indies | India | 1987/88 | Drawn |
| 129 | West Indies | New Zealand | 1986/87 | Drawn |
| 128 | West Indies | Pakistan | 1986/87 | Drawn |
| 127 | West Indies | England | 1985/86 | West Indies |
| 126 | West Indies | New Zealand | 1984/85 | West Indies |
| 125 | West Indies | Australia | 1984/85 | West Indies |
| 124 | West Indies | England | 1984 | West Indies |
| 123 | West Indies | Australia | 1983/84 | West Indies |
| 122 | West Indies | India | 1983/84 | West Indies |
| 121 | West Indies | India | 1982/83 | West Indies |
| 120 | West Indies | Australia | 1981/21 | Drawn |
| 119 | West Indies | England | 1980/81 | West Indies |
| 118 | Pakistan | West Indies | 1980/81 | West Indies |
| 117 | Australia | Pakistan | 1979/80 | Pakistan |
| 116 | England | Australia | 1979/80 | Australia |
| 115 | England | India | 1979 | England |
| 114 | England | Australia | 1978/79 | England |
| 113 | England | New Zealand | 1978 | England |
| 112 | England | Pakistan | 1978 | England |
| 111 | England | New Zealand | 1977/78 | Drawn |
| 110 | England | Pakistan | 1977/78 | Drawn |
| 109 | Australia | England | 1977 | England |
| 108 | Australia | England | 1976/77 | Australia |
| 107 | Australia | New Zealand | 1976/77 | Australia |
| 106 | Australia | Pakistan | 1976/77 | Drawn |
| 105 | Australia | West Indies | 1975/76 | Australia |
| 104 | Australia | England | 1975 | Australia |
| 103 | England | Australia | 1974/75 | Australia |
| 102 | England | Pakistan | 1974 | Drawn |
| 101 | India | England | 1974 | England |
| 100 | India | England | 1972/72 | India |
| 99 | England | India | 1971 | India |
| 98 | England | Pakistan | 1971 | England |
| 97 | England | New Zealand | 1970/71 | England |
| 96 | England | Australia | 1970/71 | England |
| 95 | England | New Zealand | 1969 | England |
| 94 | England | West Indies | 1969 | England |
| 93 | England | Pakistan | 1968/69 | Drawn |
| 92 | England | Australia | 1968 | Drawn |
| 91 | West Indies | England | 1967/68 | England |
| 90 | West Indies | India | 1966/67 | West Indies |
| 89 | West Indies | England | 1966 | West Indies |
| 88 | Australia | West Indies | 1964/65 | West Indies |
| 87 | Australia | Pakistan | 1964/65 | Drawn |
| 86 | Australia | Pakistan | 1964/65 | Drawn |
| 85 | Australia | India | 1964/65 | Drawn |
| 84 | Australia | England | 1964 | Australia |
| 83 | Australia | South Africa | 1963/64 | Drawn |
| 82 | Australia | England | 1962/63 | Drawn |
| 81 | Australia | England | 1961 | Australia |
| 80 | Australia | West Indies | 1960/61 | Australia |
| 79 | Australia | India | 1959/60 | Australia |
| 78 | Australia | Pakistan | 1959/60 | Australia |
| 77 | England | Australia | 1958/59 | Australia |
| 76 | England | New Zealand | 1958 | England |
| 75 | England | West Indies | 1957 | England |
| 74 | England | South Africa | 1956/57 | Drawn |
| 73 | England | Australia | 1956 | England |
| 72 | England | South Africa | 1955 | England |
| 71 | England | New Zealand | 1954/55 | England |
| 70 | England | Australia | 1954/55 | England |
| 69 | England | Pakistan | 1954/55 | Drawn |
| 68 | Australia | England | 1953 | England |
| 67 | Australia | South Africa | 1952/53 | Drawn |
| 66 | Australia | West Indies | 1951/52 | Australia |
| 65 | Australia | England | 1950/51 | Australia |
| 64 | Australia | South Africa | 1949/50 | Australia |
| 63 | Australia | England | 1948 | Australia |
| 62 | Australia | India | 1947/48 | Australia |
| 61 | Australia | England | 1946/47 | Australia |
| 60 | Australia | New Zealand | 1945/46 | Australia |
| 59 | Australia | England | 1938 | Drawn |
| 58 | Australia | England | 1936/37 | Australia |
| 57 | Australia | South Africa | 1935/36 | Australia |
| 56 | England | Australia | 1934 | Australia |
| 55 | England | India | 1933/34 | England |
| 54 | England | West Indies | 1933 | England |
| 53 | England | New Zealand | 1932/33 | Drawn |
| 52 | Australia | England | 1932/33 | England |
| 51 | Australia | South Africa | 1931/32 | Australia |
| 50 | Australia | West Indies | 1930/31 | Australia |
| 49 | England | Australia | 1930 | Australia |
| 48 | England | West Indies | 1929/30 | Drawn |
| 47 | England | New Zealand | 1929/30 | England |
| 46 | England | South Africa | 1929 | England |
| 45 | England | Australia | 1928/29 | England |
| 44 | England | West Indies | 1928 | England |
| 43 | England | South Africa | 1927/28 | Drawn |
| 42 | Australia | England | 1926 | England |
| 41 | Australia | England | 1924/25 | Australia |
| 40 | Australia | South Africa | 1921/22 | Australia |
| 39 | Australia | England | 1921 | Australia |
| 38 | England | Australia | 1920/21 | Australia |
| 37 | England | South Africa | 1913/14 | England |
| 36 | England | Australia | 1912 | England |
| 35 | England | South Africa | 1912 | England |
| 34 | Australia | England | 1911/12 | England |
| 33 | Australia | South Africa | 1910/11 | Australia |
| 32 | Australia | England | 1909 | Australia |
| 31 | England | Australia | 1907/08 | Australia |
| 30 | South Africa | England | 1907 | England |
| 29 | England | South Africa | 1905/06 | South Africa |
| 28 | England | Australia | 1905 | England |
| 27 | Australia | England | 1903/04 | England |
| 26 | Australia | South Africa | 1902/03 | Australia |
| 25 | Australia | England | 1902 | Australia |
| 24 | Australia | England | 1901/02 | Australia |
| 23 | Australia | England | 1899 | Australia |
| 22 | England | Australia | 1897/98 | Australia |
| 21 | England | Australia | 1896 | England |
| 20 | England | South Africa | 1895/96 | England |
| 19 | England | Australia | 1894/95 | England |
| 18 | Australia | England | 1893 | England |
| 17 | England | Australia | 1891/92 | Australia |
| 16 | England | South Africa | 1891/92 | England |
| 15 | England | Australia | 1890 | England |
| 14 | England | South Africa | 1888/89 | England |
| 13 | England | Australia | 1888 | England |
| 12 | England | Australia | 1887/88 | England |
| 11 | England | Australia | 1886/87 | England |
| 10 | England | Australia | 1886 | England |
| 9 | England | Australia | 1884/85 | England |
| 8 | Australia | England | 1884 | England |
| 7 | England | Australia | 1882/3 | Australia |
| 6 | Australia | England | 1882/83 | England |
| 5 | Australia | England | 1882 | Australia |
| 4 | Australia | England | 1881/82 | Australia |
| 3 | Australia | England | 1880 | England |
| 2 | Vacant | Australia | 1878/79 | Australia |
| 1 | Vacant | Australia | 1877 | Drawn |