Australia extended their winning run in men's ODI to 14 matches with another comprehensive win over England today (September 21), making it the longest consecutive winning streak by a team in the format since Ricky Ponting's Australia side in 2003.
The tourists were bowled out for 270 after a spin-induced collapse saw them slip from 145-3 to 221-9. Jacob Bethell struck twice in consecutive overs to dismiss set batters Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh before Adil Rashid dismissed Glenn Maxwell for the third wicket in just under four overs. Brydon Carse took two in two balls to see off Aaron Hardie and Mitchell Starc, before Rashid came back on to dismiss Adam Zampa. With the prospect of being bowled out for under 250, Alex Carey accelerated against the pacers with 74 off 67 balls to take Australia to a defendable target.
In contrast to the match at Trent Bridge, it was the pacers that did for England this time. Hazlewood had Phil Salt dropped in his first over before getting him nicked behind in his next. Will Jacks edged Starc behind for a golden duck soon after before Harry Brook was pinned by a trademark Starc yorker. Hardie dismissed Duckett and Livingstone in consecutive balls to leave England reeling at 65-5.
That England got anywhere near was a credit to Jamie Smith and Bethell. They put on 55 runs together before Bethell miscued a cut shot off Glenn Maxwell. Smith top-scored with 49 off 61 before he picked out sub-fielder Jake Fraser-McGurk at midwicket. England were eventually bowled out for 202 with just under 10 overs remaining.
Australia extend their ODI winning streak
Australia have now won 14 men's ODI matches in a row, a streak that started in the 2023 World Cup. Having lost their first two matches against India and then South Africa, Australia put together a run which saw them crowned champions. They then extended their unbeaten streak when they faced the West Indies in their first bilateral ODI series following the tournament. That series saw them put together three dominant wins by eight wickets, 83 runs and eight wickets respectively.
Now with another three years until the next World Cup in 2027, the 50-over format is taking a backseat, and Australia hadn't played an ODI for almost eight months before their series against England. Their 68-run win in the second ODI follows their seven-wicket win in the opening match of the series at Trent Bridge. While this winning streak is the second-best ever in the format, they have some way to go to beat the best.
In 2003, another Australia side put together a 21-match streak, beginning with victory in a tri-series with England and Sri Lanka, before continuing into the World Cup of that year. That tournament was the second of three consecutive World Cups Australia would win from 1999 to 2007, and was Australia's third World Cup win overall. It culminated in a 125-run win over India in the final before, identically to the 2023 edition, Australia headed out to the Caribbean for a bilateral series. While they won the first four ODIs of that series, the West Indies struck back in the fifth, winning it by 39 runs and going on to win the remaining two matches.
That Australia side boasted many of the all-time greats, and was arguably the best-ever side in the format. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden made up the opening partnership, with Ponting at three and a middle order of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Michael Bevan. There was also an enviable pace attack, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie all regulars, while Brad Hogg led the spin department.
If the 2024 Australia side are to go past their predecessors, they will have a while to wait. Following their five-match series against England, they will play Pakistan in three ODIs, which will be their final 50-over assignment of the year. If they win all of their remaining matches this year, they will be on 20 consecutive wins, and still one off drawing level with the 2003 Australia side.
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