Australian sport supporters have the strongest emotional connection with their national women’s teams, with new research showing they fill the top four spots in a new survey, while frustrated cricket fans have voted the men’s Test team all the way down in 62nd and last place.

The Australian women’s rugby sevens team took out top spot in the 2018 Benchmark Report, where a total of 4,299 men and women were surveyed as part of the study by True North Research to gauge the emotional connection fans have with their teams.

The public has embraced Australia's women's rugby sevens team. Credit:Joe Armao

Based on a number of indices - including respect, brand, pride, enjoyment and trust - the Pearls pipped the Australian women’s soccer team, the Matildas, for top spot.

It continues the public's love affair with the Pearls after they claimed the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.