Top 5 longest unbeaten streaks in ODI cricket

Cricket's one-day format requires both flair and consistency. Losing your rhythm in a single game can cause a promising run to disappear. But a few teams have bucked the trend, stringing together victory after victory under varying conditions and tournaments. When a team gets it right for long enough, history has a way of following along.

Even a relatively underdog can surprise an established and high-profile team in a One-Day International, and we have witnessed several instances of this. So, maintaining a long unbeaten streak in ODIs is no joke. Here are the top five longest unbeaten streaks in men’s ODI history, with dates and details drawn straight from the record books.

1. Australia – 21 successes (11 January to 24 May 2003)

Australia's early‑2003 juggernaut, spearheaded by Ricky Ponting, is the benchmark. That streak was initiated with a seven‑wicket victory over England in Hobart and concluded with a trouncing of the West Indies in Port of Spain. Between them were whitewashes of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa, along with close series wins in demanding conditions. Australia's pace battery—Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and co.—supported a batting lineup with an average of over 300 per innings, rendering this 21-match streak almost invincible. 

2. Australia – 14 wins (16 October 2023 to 21 September 2024)

Two decades later, the Baggy Greens soared again. Beginning with a tri-series triumph against England in Lucknow, Australia had 14 straight wins, highlighted by an overwhelming World Cup performance and series victory in South Africa. Central to this spree were globe‑class performers such as David Warner, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, whose steadiness with bat and ball bridged home tracks and quick foreign decks. It is the second‑longest sequence, highlighting Australia's ability to peak at the appropriate time. 

3. Sri Lanka – 13 victories (4 June to 9 September 2023) 

Sri Lanka emerged from reconstruction with a 13-match run under Dasun Shanaka. They started by destroying Afghanistan at Hambantota, then swept across series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan. Angelo Mathews's steady leadership and Wanindu Hasaranga's crafty spin made Sri Lanka a multi-dimensional threat. The run ended in victory over Bangladesh in Colombo, the island nation's longest unbeaten ODI run.

4. South Africa – 12 victories (13 February to 30 October 2005)

Shaun Pollock's seamers and the batting leadership of Herschelle Gibbs created a string of twelve consecutive victories in 2005. Starting in Centurion, South Africa whitewashed Pakistan and Zimbabwe at home, then played nervy abroad with victories in Pakistan and Australia. Their mastery of reverse swing and chase mentality meant that they never lost control once they gained it. That run of 12 matches is one of the Proteas' most proud periods.

5. Pakistan – 12 wins (18 November 2007 to 8 June 2008)

In the aftermath of the 2007 World Cup, Pakistan stunned fans by winning 12 consecutive matches. They opened with a famous victory over India in Jaipur—shattering another team’s aura at home—then swept Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, finally sealing the run with a tight chase in Dhaka. Shoaib Akhtar’s raw pace and Shahid Afridi’s finishing power epitomised this streak, showcasing Pakistan’s ability to peak amid transition.

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