Australia's fortress, and New Zealand's long wait

What is Australia's longest winning streak at home? Which team has strung together the most successive victories in a foreign country? How many Tests did New Zealand play in England before they won one? It's what we've dug up in this week's List - consecutive wins and losses in a particular country.

The 21st century Australian outfit possesses the two longest winning streaks in a particular country - 12 Tests at home between January 1999 and 2001, and another 11 consecutive victories between December 2005 and January 2008. The first streak began with the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG in 1999, included whitewashes against Pakistan, India and West Indies, and ended with a series of three draws against New Zealand. The second run started after Jacques Rudolph's match-saving century at the WACA in 2005 and comprised two wins against South Africa, five against England, and two each against Sri Lanka and India. That streak also ended at the WACA, with a 72-run defeat to India.

If Rudolph hadn't scored that fourth-innings hundred, Australia would have strung together 21 wins in a row because, before that Test against South Africa in Perth, they had 10 wins on the trot against New Zealand, Pakistan, ICC World XI, and West Indies. On the whole, between January 1999 and 2008, Australia played 54 Tests at home, winning 45 and losing only two. The longest streak the all-conquering West Indies team of the 1980s managed was only seven consecutive wins, in 1985-86.

It isn't Australia, though, but England who have the most consecutive wins in a foreign country. England beat South Africa, who were playing their first Test, by eight wickets in Port Elizabeth in March 1889 and over the next decade won seven Tests on the trot in South Africa. England's run ended with a thrilling one-wicket victory for the hosts in Johannesburg in 1906, the first Test of a series South Africa won 4-1.

Australia, though, aren't far behind. They rarely are. The 1936 Cape Town Test was the first of four consecutive innings victories in South Africa, after which they won two more Tests, by eight and five wickets. Their run of six successive wins was halted by a high-scoring draw in Johannesburg in 1950 or else their innings-victory in the next Test, at St George's Park, would have been their eighth in a row in South Africa.

Most consecutive wins in a country - Tests

Team	Host Country	Mat	Start Match	Scorecard	End Match	Scorecard
Australia	in Australia	12	Jan 2, 1999	Test 1439	Jan 2, 2001	Test 1527
Australia	in Australia	11	Dec 26, 2005	Test 1779	Jan 2, 2008	Test 1857
India	in India	10	Dec 2, 1988	Test 1111	Nov 18, 1994	Test 1274
South Africa	in South Africa	10	Mar 6, 1998	Test 1406	Nov 25, 1999	Test 1471
Sri Lanka	in Sri Lanka	10	Aug 29, 2001	Test 1559	Jul 28, 2002	Test 1611
England	in England	10	Sep 4, 2003	Test 1659	Jun 3, 2005	Test 1753
South Africa	in South Africa	9	Mar 15, 2002	Test 1595	Dec 26, 2003	Test 1679
Australia	in Australia	9	Nov 18, 2004	Test 1721	Nov 25, 2005	Test 1773
England	in South Africa	8	Mar 12, 1889	Test 31	Apr 1, 1899	Test 59
Australia	in Australia	8	Dec 17, 1920	Test 135	Jan 16, 1925	Test 160
England	in England	8	Jun 4, 1959	Test 474	Jul 7, 1960	Test 494
Australia	in Australia	7	Jan 1, 1948	Test 292	Feb 2, 1951	Test 330
West Indies	in West Indies	7	Apr 26, 1985	Test 1015	Apr 11, 1986	Test 1045
Australia	in Australia	7	Dec 14, 2001	Test 1576	Dec 26, 2002	Test 1634
Australia	in South Africa	6	Jan 1, 1936	Test 249	Jan 20, 1950	Test 320
England	in England	6	Jul 25, 1957	Test 442	Jul 24, 1958	Test 457
West Indies	in West Indies	6	Feb 16, 1962	Test 525	Mar 3, 1965	Test 580
Sri Lanka	in Sri Lanka	6	Jul 27, 2006	Test 1810	Dec 1, 2007	Test 1851

The Perth defeat to India also prevented Australia from equalling Pakistan's run of 26 Tests without a defeat (draws included). Pakistan were unbeaten at home for six years between December 1980 and 1986, winning 14 and drawing 12 Tests. That streak was preceded by a 19-match unbeaten run (14 draws, two wins) dating back to 1969, and Pakistan were also undefeated at home for 15 Tests (nine draws, six wins) until 1990 after the loss to West Indies in Lahore in 1986.

The longest unbeaten run in a foreign country is England's 23 Tests in New Zealand between January 1930, when England toured for the first time, and February 1975. They won 10 and drew 13 of those Tests and only suffered their first defeat in New Zealand in Wellington in 1978.

West Indies were also undefeated in England for 23 Tests between 1973 and 1988. However, they haven't won any of their last 14 Teststhere: losing 12 and drawing two Tests since the victory at Edgbaston in 2000.

Most consecutive matches without a loss in a country - Tests

Team	Host Country	Mat	Start Match	Scorecard	End Match	Scorecard
Pakistan	in Pakistan	26	Dec 22, 1980	Test 890	Oct 24, 1986	Test 1055
West Indies	in West Indies	25	Apr 15, 1978	Test 823	Apr 11, 1986	Test 1045
Australia	in Australia	25	Dec 26, 2003	Test 1678	Jan 2, 2008	Test 1857
England	in England	24	Jul 12, 1956	Test 427	Jun 8, 1961	Test 507
England	in New Zealand	23	Jan 10, 1930	Test 186	Feb 28, 1975	Test 758
West Indies	in England	23	Jul 26, 1973	Test 725	Aug 4, 1988	Test 1102
Australia	in Australia	22	Jan 2, 1999	Test 1439	Dec 26, 2002	Test 1634
England	in England	21	Jul 23, 1921	Test 143	Jun 13, 1930	Test 194
Australia	in South Africa	21	Oct 11, 1902	Test 75	Feb 28, 1958	Test 451
Australia	in Australia	21	Jan 26, 1989	Test 1113	Jan 2, 1993	Test 1208
India	in India	20	Jan 28, 1977	Test 794	Jan 29, 1980	Test 871
Pakistan	in Pakistan	19	Nov 8, 1969	Test 665	Nov 24, 1980	Test 886
Australia	in Australia	17	Jan 1, 1937	Test 257	Feb 2, 1951	Test 330
England	in South Africa	17	Jan 1, 1931	Test 202	Jan 25, 1957	Test 436
England	in England	16	Jun 21, 1951	Test 335	Jul 22, 1954	Test 389
India	in India	16	Jan 23, 1960	Test 487	Feb 15, 1964	Test 557
England	in England	15	Jun 20, 1968	Test 638	Aug 5, 1971	Test 691
West Indies	in India	15	Nov 10, 1948	Test 304	Dec 11, 1974	Test 747
England	in England	15	Jun 16, 1977	Test 804	Aug 30, 1979	Test 854
Pakistan	in Pakistan	15	Nov 20, 1986	Test 1058	Nov 15, 1990	Test 1154
Sri Lanka	in Sri Lanka	15	Aug 29, 2001	Test 1559	Dec 18, 2003	Test 1675

New Zealand also had to wait decades for their first win in England. They drew their first match there, at Lord's in June 1931, and endured 10 more draws and 17 defeats before finally winning a Test by five wickets at Leeds in 1983.

South Africa suffered a winless period at home between January 1931 and March 1950. They played 24 Tests during that time, against England and Australia, losing 11 and drawing 13. It is the most consecutive home matches by a team without a single victory. South Africa's eight straight home defeats against England between 1889 and 1899 are also the second-highest number of consecutive home losses, after Bangladesh's 13.

Most consecutive matches without a win in a country - Tests

Team	Host Country	Mat	Start Match	Scorecard	End Match	Scorecard
New Zealand	in England	28	Jun 27, 1931	Test 209	Jul 14, 1983	Test 957
South Africa	in South Africa	24	Jan 1, 1931	Test 202	Mar 3, 1950	Test 322
West Indies	in West Indies	22	May 5, 1965	Test 589	Apr 21, 1973	Test 721
New Zealand	in New Zealand	21	Jan 10, 1930	Test 186	Mar 3, 1956	Test 423
India	in England	21	Jun 25, 1932	Test 219	Aug 5, 1971	Test 691
Pakistan	in India	21	Nov 13, 1952	Test 357	Mar 4, 1987	Test 1071
South Africa	in England	20	Jul 1, 1907	Test 93	Jun 15, 1935	Test 242
India	in Pakistan	20	Jan 1, 1955	Test 394	Dec 9, 1989	Test 1132
England	in Pakistan	19	Jan 19, 1962	Test 521	Nov 29, 2000	Test 1518
Pakistan	in England	18	May 31, 1962	Test 530	Jul 29, 1982	Test 931
New Zealand	in Australia	17	Dec 4, 1987	Test 1082	Nov 28, 2008	Test 1896
England	in England	16	Jun 5, 1986	Test 1046	Aug 4, 1988	Test 1102
India	in West Indies	16	Apr 21, 1976	Test 776	Apr 11, 2002	Test 1598
New Zealand	in New Zealand	15	Feb 27, 1959	Test 470	Feb 15, 1968	Test 630
India	in India	15	Dec 9, 1981	Test 912	Dec 24, 1983	Test 972
Bangladesh	in Bangladesh	15	Nov 10, 2000	Test 1512	Dec 17, 2004	Test 1727
Australia	in Pakistan	14	Dec 4, 1959	Test 481	Nov 1, 1994	Test 1273
Sri Lanka	in India	14	Sep 17, 1982	Test 934	Dec 18, 2005	Test 1778
West Indies	in England	14	Jun 29, 2000	Test 1503	May 14, 2009	Test 1920

The most consecutive ODI wins in a country is Australia's 16-match streak in the Caribbean. It began with the 2007 World Cup, during which they won all 11 matches to retain the title, after which they blanked West Indies 5-0 in a bilateral series in 2008. That was their last 50-over assignment in the Caribbean and so their streak hasn't ended yet.

Most consecutive wins in a country - ODIs

Team	Host Country	Mat	Start Match	Scorecard	End Match	Scorecard
Australia	in West Indies	16	Mar 14, 2007	ODI 2532	Jul 6, 2008	ODI 2736
West Indies	in England	14	Sep 7, 1973	ODI 9	May 28, 1980	ODI 89
West Indies	in West Indies	12	Mar 19, 1986	ODI 370	Mar 21, 1989	ODI 563
Sri Lanka	in Sri Lanka	12	Feb 21, 1996	ODI 1055	Aug 20, 1997	ODI 1224
Sri Lanka	in Sri Lanka	12	Aug 31, 1999	ODI 1491	Jul 25, 2001	ODI 1738
Pakistan	in Pakistan	12	Oct 27, 2000	ODI 1649	Oct 5, 2003	ODI 2047
Australia	in Australia	12	Jan 11, 2003	ODI 1932	Jan 16, 2004	ODI 2082
England	in Zimbabwe	12	Feb 16, 2000	ODI 1562	Dec 5, 2004	ODI 2197
West Indies	in Australia	11	Feb 12, 1984	ODI 248	Feb 2, 1985	ODI 300
South Africa	in South Africa	11	Jan 13, 1996	ODI 1036	Feb 4, 1997	ODI 1173
Pakistan	in Pakistan	11	Jan 21, 2008	ODI 2662	Jun 24, 2008	ODI 2712
Australia	in Australia	10	Jan 7, 1988	ODI 488	Dec 11, 1988	ODI 537
Pakistan	in United Arab Emirates	10	Mar 23, 1989	ODI 564	May 4, 1990	ODI 631
Australia	in Australia	10	Jan 12, 2000	ODI 1539	Aug 16, 2000	ODI 1620
South Africa	in South Africa	10	Oct 22, 2000	ODI 1643	Jan 14, 2001	ODI 1671
Australia	in Australia	10	Jan 11, 2001	ODI 1667	Feb 9, 2001	ODI 1687
Australia	in South Africa	10	Feb 11, 2003	ODI 1945	Mar 23, 2003	ODI 1993
Zimbabwe	in Bangladesh	10	Mar 19, 1999	ODI 1412	Jan 24, 2005	ODI 2210
South Africa	in South Africa	10	Dec 2, 2007	ODI 2652	Nov 9, 2008	ODI 2772
Sri Lanka	in Zimbabwe	10	Apr 20, 2004	ODI 2119	Nov 30, 2008	ODI 2785

Most consecutive losses in a country - ODIs

Team	Host Country	Mat	Start Match	Scorecard	End Match	Scorecard
Bangladesh	in Bangladesh	21	Oct 27, 1988	ODI 529	Jan 25, 2002	ODI 1794
Zimbabwe	in Zimbabwe	17	Jun 23, 2001	ODI 1727	Dec 1, 2002	ODI 1907
Zimbabwe	in Zimbabwe	16	Apr 20, 2004	ODI 2119	Sep 4, 2005	ODI 2280
Kenya	in Kenya	14	Oct 16, 1997	ODI 1244	Sep 5, 2002	ODI 1872
Bangladesh	in Bangladesh	13	Dec 2, 2002	ODI 1909	Dec 23, 2004	ODI 2199
Sri Lanka	in Pakistan	12	Mar 31, 1982	ODI 151	Jan 15, 1992	ODI 706
Sri Lanka	in Australia	11	Jan 23, 1985	ODI 294	Jan 10, 1988	ODI 491
Zimbabwe	in Australia	11	Jan 25, 2001	ODI 1676	Jan 26, 2004	ODI 2089
Sri Lanka	in United Arab Emirates	10	Apr 8, 1984	ODI 260	Mar 24, 1989	ODI 565
Bangladesh	in Sri Lanka	10	Mar 31, 1986	ODI 375	Sep 23, 2002	ODI 1885
Zimbabwe	in United Arab Emirates	10	Nov 13, 1998	ODI 1374	Apr 3, 2003	ODI 1994
Zimbabwe	in South Africa	10	Feb 6, 2000	ODI 1558	Sep 20, 2006	ODI 2420
Bangladesh	in Sri Lanka	10	Jul 17, 2004	ODI 2145	Jul 25, 2007	ODI 2607
Bangladesh	in Pakistan	10	Sep 9, 2003	ODI 2041	Apr 19, 2008	ODI 2703
Zimbabwe	in Zimbabwe	10	Dec 2, 2007	ODI 2651	Aug 11, 2009	ODI 2871
Zimbabwe	in India	9	Oct 10, 1987	ODI 454	Mar 25, 1993	ODI 823
West Indies	in New Zealand	9	Jan 2, 2000	ODI 1532	Mar 1, 2006	ODI 2342
Zimbabwe	in Pakistan	9	Nov 24, 1998	ODI 1377	Feb 2, 2008	ODI 2669
West Indies	in South Africa	9	Feb 4, 2004	ODI 2096	Sep 30, 2009	ODI 2904