Test Cricket Record — 16 Wins in a Row
In 2008 the Australian test team, captained by Ricky Ponting, completed 16 wins in a row and
so equalled Steve Waugh's team's record of 16 wins in a row.
Waugh's sequence was lucky with the weather; it started with 2 draws (both washed out in Sri
Lanka) followed by 16 wins. Those 2 draws and 16 wins gave Steve Waugh's team a sequence of
18 matches without a loss, that is, 18 matches between losses.
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Ponting had 22 matches between losses – 20 wins and 2 draws. Like Waugh's sequence,
it started with a draw, but unfortunately the other draw broke his winning sequence into
two parts, namely 4 wins and 16 wins. Despite Ponting's remarkable result between losses
it is never mentioned, and probably never noticed, by cricket commentators.
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In the Bradman/Hassett era, Australia had a sequence of 25 matches between losses –
20 wins and 5 draws (mainly weather-related) such that the most wins in a row was only 5.
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Though the record of 16 wins in a row is jointly held by Waugh and Ponting, which is really
the more significant? The way this record is determined is a bit corny with the weather
being such a factor in the calculation. It is quite unfair when bad luck with the weather
can cause a match to end in a draw in the middle of a sequence of wins. This is a frequent
occurrence. Results show that, on average, one test match in three ends in a draw!
Note:
West Indies has had 27 wins between losses and England 26 – each broken up by draws!
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