Cricket
Best Asian Test Team in SENA: India vs Pakistan Ranked
For any Asian cricket team, winning a Test match or series in a SENA country (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) is always special. When playing in these countries, Asian teams are exposed to weather and playing conditions that are much different from what they experience at home. In Asia, pitches are usually dry and favour spinners, but in SENA countries, the quicks get maximum help with pace, bounce, and swing in offer. The overcast skies in England, the seaming green tops in New Zealand, the fiery pace-friendly pitches in South Africa, and the unforgiving bounce in Australia makes it clear why victories in SENA countries are so special for Asian teams.
Mohammed Siraj /Getty Images
Batters must learn to handle swinging deliveries and short-pitched bowling, while bowlers need to adjust their lengths and stay patient. Even fielding standards are tested.
Over the years, India and Pakistan have both produced some great Test teams. But when it comes to conquering the toughest terrains of SENA, an interesting debate comes up: which side has truly been the most successful Asian team in SENA? This article explores the best Asian Test team in SENA through stats, and expert opinion.
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Most Successful Asian Team in SENA
To find out which Asian Test team has been most successful in SENA conditions, we used the SB Market Index. This index looks at numbers like win percentage in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. Along with the numbers, it also considers how the media views these performances. By combining statistics with expert and media opinions, the ranking gives a more complete picture of success beyond just numbers in Test cricket in SENA countries.
Industry Insights
Along with the numbers, we studied insights from ten leading cricket and sports media outlets. Their analysis shows how often India and Pakistan are mentioned as the most successful Asian team in SENA conditions.
| Source Name | India | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| Sporting News – Pakistan Test performance in SENA | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TheCricketPanda – Top Asian teams performance in SENA | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit – “Pakistan have been clearly the best Asian team in SENA.” | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| WIONews – Asian captains most Test wins (Kohli top) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| CricIndeed – Most Test wins in SENA by Asian captains (Kohli top) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| PakPassion – All-time Test records of Asian teams in SENA (Pakistan leads) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PakPassion – Series records in SENA since 2000 (India most series wins) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cricbuzz – Asia in SENA summary (Pakistan most successful) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit – India’s SENA away tours performance (India best in recent years) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| CricIndeed – Asian players Test centuries in SENA (India top performers) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 5 | 0 |
SB Score
| Team | Matches in SENA | Wins in SENA | Win Percentage in SENA | SB Score |
| Pakistan | 148 | 29 | 19.59% | 1.000 |
| India | 179 | 30 | 16.76% | 0.856 |
| Sri Lanka | 76 | 9 | 11.84% | 0.604 |
This score is calculated based on the team's overall win percentage in SENA countries (100% weightage). The raw stats are used to calculate the final SB Score.
SB Market Index
| Rank | Team | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Pakistan | 1.000 | 5 | 4.200 |
| 2 | India | 0.856 | 5 | 4.171 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 0.604 | 0 | 0.121 |
The Verdict: A Neck-and-Neck Battle for SENA Supremacy
The SB Market Index shows just how close the contest is between India and Pakistan when it comes to being the best Asian Test team in SENA. Both teams scored equally in the Industry Insights section, with experts and media giving them the same recognition. That meant the final ranking came down to the SB Score, based on win percentage in SENA countries.
Here, Pakistan had the edge. Even though India has won one more Test overall, Pakistan’s victories came from fewer matches, giving them a slightly better win percentage. That small difference proved to be the deciding factor. As a result, Pakistan finished just ahead of India on the SB Market Index, while Sri Lanka trailed far behind due to both lower success on the field and minimal media presence.
Pakistan: The Statistical Leaders in SENA
If we look at the numbers, Pakistan has been the most consistent Asian side in SENA conditions over the years. Their higher win percentage over India and Sri Lanka is why they top the SB Score. This stronger win rate across decades makes Pakistan the statistical leaders in our model and earns them the number one spot as the most successful Asian team in SENA.
India: The Modern-Day Powerhouse
India may not edge Pakistan on win percentage, but their overall impact in recent years has been tremendous. They have more total wins in SENA countries and their recognition in the Industry Insights section is on par with Pakistan. Much of this is due to India’s historic series wins in Australia and competitive performances in England. These wins have changed the way experts and fans view India in overseas Tests.
Conclusion on Asian Dominance in SENA
The comparison between India and Pakistan in SENA is as close as it gets. Both the teams are rated equally high by experts and media. The only difference comes from the numbers. Pakistan’s slightly better win rate gives them the narrowest of leads in the SB Market Index.
This means Pakistan finish on top in our model, but only by a very small margin. India’s recent success overseas makes the debate even more exciting. The battle for the title of the best touring Test side Asia has produced and the most successful Asian team SENA remains compelling and extremely close.
Disclaimer – This analysis uses verified career statistics and a specific weighted model incorporating 'Industry Insights'. Different methodologies, weightings, or sources for market perception could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.
Chad Nagel is a passionate sports fanatic who has worked in the sports and betting industry for over a decade. He spent most of his career as an editor-in-chief for Soccer Betting News, South Africa’s leading soccer betting newspaper, owned by Hollywoodbets. His articles have also featured in some of the most respected sports media platforms in the world, such as SPORTbible, Sports Illustrated, Combat Sports UK, and many others.