Simply the best unbeaten runs ...
Recalling the undefeated feats of sporting legends
India’s cricket team this week clinched a thrilling Test-series win against Australia in Brisbane by becoming the first country to defeat the hosts at the Gabba since 1988.
Australia had been undefeated in 31 previous Test matches at the venue – winning 24 – since losing to the West Indies there more than 32 years ago.
Here, The News takes a look at a selection of other lengthy sporting unbeaten runs.
Jahangir Khan (squash)
Khan lays claim to one of the most impressive winning streaks ever, having gone undefeated in all tournaments from 1981 to 1986.
The Pakistani was crowned World Open champion aged 17 and won his next 555 matches before losing in the
World Open final five years later to New Zealand’s Ross Norman.
Ed Moses (athletics)
American 400-metre hurdler Moses’ 122-race winning streak is the longest in track history. Moses was untouchable for almost a decade and set new world records on four occasions. After finishing second to West Germany’s Harald Schmid in August 1977, he did not lose again until beaten by fellow American Danny Harris in June 1987.
Arsenal (football)
The Gunners set an English top-flight record of 49 league games unbeaten in 2003-04. They became the first side in the modern era to go an entire season undefeated (26 wins, 12 draws). Their unbeaten run was finally ended in 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in their 10th league game the following term.
West Indies (cricket)
The West Indies embarked on a 15-year unbeaten run in 1980 which saw them undefeated in 29 Test series. From 1980 to 1995 they won 20 series and drew nine. During that run they went unbeaten in 27 matches, winning 17 and drawing 10 and set a joint record of seven straight Test series wins from 1982-1986.
Hampshire legends Gordon Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall played key roles during the 27-match unbeaten run. Greenidge played in all the games, scoring 2,087 runs at 59.82, while Marshall bagged 127 wickets in 23 Tests.
Celtic (football)
In 2016/17, Celtic - then managed by current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers – were undefeated in completing a domestic treble of Scottish League, FA Cup and League Cup. Across all three competitions, they won 43 matches and drew four.
New Zealand (rugby union)
The All Blacks have not lost in 44 Test matches at Eden Park, Auckland, stretching back to a 20-23 defeat to France in 1994. Since then, only two sides have managed to avoid being beaten, South Africa (18-18) in 1994 and the British & Irish Lions (15-15) in 2017. Between 2009 and 2017, the All Blacks won a record 47 Tests at all venues on home soil.
Real Madrid (football)
The Spanish giants hold the record for the longest unbeaten home league run in top flight football history. Between February 1957 and March 1965, they were undefeated in 121 La Liga games at fortress Bernabeu. In two seasons, 1959/60 and 1962/63, they won all 15 home league games.
Liverpool are currently unbeaten in 68 Premier League games at Anfield, while Chelsea (86) hold the Premier League record (2004-2008).
Martina Navratilova (tennis)
Navratilova won a record 74 consecutive singles matches in 1984.
After losing to Hana Mandlikova in the Virginia Slims finals in January that year, the Czech-born American went unbeaten until losing to Helena Sukova in the Australian Open semi-finals. Defeat to Sukova, a teenager from Czechoslovakia, dashed Navratilova’s hopes of a record seventh consecutive grand slam title.
Esther Vergeer (tennis)
Navratilova’s record, though impressive, is nowhere near as remarkable as that of Dutch wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer.
After losing in January 2003, she embarked on a 470-match winning streak that was only ended when she retired just over a decade later. In that period Vergeer won a staggering 120 tournaments and did not drop a game in 95 of those 470 matches. She only lost 18 sets and was taken to match point only once - in the final of the 2008 Paralympic Games.
New York Yacht Club (sailing)
A boat built by a six-member syndicate - including John Cox Stevens of the NYYC - won the inaugural America’s Cup event off the Isle of Wight in 1851. Six years later, the syndicate donated the trophy to the club, who went on hold it until 1983 - successfully defending it 24 times. Unsurprisingly, their 126-year hold on the silverware is the longest unbeaten run in world sporting history!