The early and mid-2000s
Unsurprisingly, Australia would have dominated the league in the early and mid-2000s, under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, but, interestingly, India would have snuck in a top-place finish during their second cycle. This is because India under Sourav Ganguly, between 2002 and 2005, played consecutive away series against Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and consecutive home series against Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand, winning five of those series. Meanwhile, Australia, around the same period, had a much harder schedule, playing both India and New Zealand home and away, an away Ashes, and a home series against Sri Lanka. Mind you, this is when Australia famously beat India on their patch, hailed as their conquering the final frontier, but that series would only have fetched them 70 points, while India's 2-0 victories home and away against Zimbabwe would have fetched 120 points each. Australia would not even have qualified for the final in that cycle, as 3-0 victories over New Zealand at home and West Indies away, a home Ashes win, and an away series win in South Africa would have put England in second place. This kind of cycle is exactly what fans are afraid will lead to undeserving finalists in the Test Championship.