Top 5 longest unbeaten streaks in Test cricket

Test cricket's longest unbeaten streaks are not just a statistic. They're periods of dominance, resilience and strategic genius. To go undefeated for so long is to survive varying conditions, opposition teams and the inevitable slump in form. Players, current and former, hold Test cricket in the highest regard for a reason. 

Consistency across time is the most reliable indicator to compare when discussing the best Test sides of all time. Dominant Test teams tend to be the ones that history (and statisticians) remember the most. These are the five longest unbeaten series in Test cricket history, each being an unbroken dominance of a team:

1. West Indies – 27 Tests (1982 to 1984)

The West Indies of the early '80s, did not only won several series, but they won them with a steamroller. Clive Lloyd's team remained unbeaten in 27 Tests from January 1982 to February 1984, with 18 victories and nine draws. 

They mauled Australia (8–1 in six series), dominated England and were held to a draw by India in a high-scoring thriller. Their deadly pace attack quartet of Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Andy Roberts made batting a nightmare anywhere. They are said to have been one of the most dominant forces in cricket to have ever existed.

2. England – 26 Tests (1968 to 1971)

Under firm captaincy by Ray Illingworth, England had a 26‑Test streak of no loss from 1968 to 1971 with ten victories and 16 draws. The pick of the bunch was a 2–0 West Indies series victory, a draw in Pakistan and a classic 2–0 whitewash of New Zealand. 

Illingworth's focus on strict bowling with Chris Old, John Snow and Derek Underwood forming the attack and a strong batting line‑up led by Geoff Boycott was unbeatable. They made quite a formidable force back then.

3. Australia - 25 Tests (1946 to 1951)

Post-war Australia, captained by Don Bradman and subsequently Lindsay Hassett, went five years without a loss in Tests, 20 victories and five draws from 25 matches. Their dominance rested on the batting wizardry of Bradman, the swing of Ray Lindwall, and the all-round excellence of Keith Miller. 

They recaptured the Ashes in 1948 with ease, toured India without loss, and returned home to send packing England and South Africa. It is still a yardstick for consistency and still resonates as one of the best streaks.

4. Australia – 22 Tests (2005 to 2008)

Flash-forward sixty years, and Australia proved they could do it again. Between December 2005 and November 2008, Ricky Ponting's side went 22 Tests undefeated with 21 wins and just one draw, supported by the all-round brilliance of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden. 

They overwhelmed Pakistan 3–0 at home, hung on in India, swept South Africa and took back the Ashes in 2006–07. It was a masterclass in adaptability across six tours, and the team proved to be just too good for any other to handle.

5. India – 19 Tests (2015 to 2017)

India rewrote the script in the new age. Between December 2015 and December 2017, Virat Kohli's inexperienced side went 19 Tests without defeat, with 15 victories and four draws. 

Kohli's dependability at the crease, Ajinkya Rahane's capability to make an impact overseas and a pace-spin combination of Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin proved to be deadly, as they brushed aside New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka, and drew against Australia and England. It was India's first extended unbeaten sequence overseas.

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