Most Wins Before First Defeat: Temba Bavuma Record

Most Wins Before First Defeat: South African skipper Temba Bavuma has entered the record books as he created a new world record among Test captains for most wins before a first defeat, as his winning streak extended to 12 in a row after South Africa’s convincing series win against India.

Especially with South Africa winning the World Test Championship title under his leadership earlier this year at Lord’s, Bavuma’s rise as a leader has been nothing short of astonishing.

A remarkable captaincy career began in 2023

When Bavuma took over the reins in 2023, South Africa were just rebuilding after their heavy Test series loss in Australia and an early exit from the T20 World Cup. His first assignment as captain saw them win by 87 runs against the West Indies at Centurion.

Under him, South Africa revamped their Test fortunes and reached the knockouts of both the 50-over and T20 World Cups, further cementing their stature across formats.

Unbeaten Streak and Major Series Wins

South Africa had swept West Indies 2-0 in 2023 before taking on India at home. Even though South Africa crushed India in the first Test, Bavuma’s hamstring injury on day one meant he was absent for most of the match and missed out on the remainder of the series. His only draw came against West Indies in August the following year before South Africa sealed the second Test.

Bavuma’s march towards the WTC title included:

A 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka

A 2-0 sweep against Pakistan

A historic win over Australia at Lord’s

The biggest challenge came in India at the start of the new WTC cycle—and he passed it with distinction. Bavuma now joins Hansie Cronje as only the second South African captain to win a Test series in India.

Temba Bavuma Sets a World Record: Most Wins Before First Defeat

Indeed, with a record of 12 unbeaten matches, 11 of which were victories, Bavuma now holds the world record for the most wins before first defeat by any Test captain in the game’s history.

Previous Record Holders

Mike Brearley (England): 10 wins in his first 15 matches (1977-1978)

Percy Chapman (England): 9 wins in 9 matches, 1926-1930

Although Bavuma has overtaken them for the number of wins before a first defeat, he still trails Ricky Ponting, whose 16 consecutive Test wins as captain between 2005 and 2008 remain the longest streak.