This stat attack was inspired by those nice people on the league’s podcast. They have started to musing (in my direction!) about various aspect of MCCL cricket, hoping I will use my database to provide answers. In a recent podcast they wondered what the longest home winning streak a MCCL team had put together? Or were they asking what the longest unbeaten home streak was? As you can see exact definitions need to be established. Is a winning steak a steak of only wins, or does an abandoned game break the streak? For me, I have no issue with cancelled games (no play at all) not breaking a streak, I was less comfortable with, but I have been persuaded. An abandoned game is a game that could not be finished. The argument is that an abandoned game is game which did not go long enough for a result to be awarded, in effect a no result, so should not break (or extend) any streak.

Winning Streaks:

Must be consecutive wins: 1st XIs: Richmond – 12 games – 10th June 2017 to 18th May 2019 (W12). Richmond’s run could have been quite remarkable were it not for a 6 wicket defeat by Ealing which came ended a 9 game winning streak, and precipitated the above streak. With out that loss Richmond would have had a 21 game winning streak. The next longest two streaks, were both achieved by virtually the same team Ealing 2005/06 (11 wins) and Ealing 2006/07 (10 wins) . These streaks were only actually separated by two losses and a draw, otherwise there could have been another monster streak. Note - Don Shelley advises me that Southgate had a 15 game winning streak in 1975 and 1976, which could have been longer if it was not ended by a scores level draw against Ealing. After that Ealing game Southgate went on to win another 3 games. All XIs: Richmond – 12 games as above.

Winning Streak - cancelled games and abandoned games not breaking streaks: 1st XIs: Richmond – 12 games as above. All XIs: Richmond – 12 games as above.

The irony of the above situation will not be lost on the various people I canvassed as to which of the three definitions of a ‘winning streak’ was correct. The answer I arrived at was there is no actual correct definition, it’s a matter of individual choice! In the MCCL, at present it makes no difference!

Unbeaten Streaks: 1st XIs: Ealing – 28 games – 7th June 2008 to 26th June 2010 (W19, D9). All XIs: Hampstead 2s– 30 games - 8th September 2001 to 26th July 2003 (W18, D12)

For podcast listeners (how this all started) the home only streaks are below:

1st XIs Home Games Only :

Most consecutive Wins: Richmond – 10 games -- 2nd June 2018 to 1st June 2019 (W10) Readers will notice that this overlaps with their record above. The first 9 wins in the streak were all batting second.

Winning Streak - cancelled games and abandoned games not breaking streaks: Richmond – 15 games – 10th June 2017 to 1st June 2019 (W15, A2)

Unbeaten Streak: Ealing – 20 games – 14th June 2008 to 26th June 2010 (W14, D6)

All XIs Home Games Only :

Most consecutive Wins: North Middlesex 2s – 11 games – 9th July 2016 to 8th July 2017 (W11) North Middlesex 3s – 11 games – 20th May 2015 to 11th June 2016 (W11)

Winning Streak - cancelled games and abandoned games not breaking streaks: North Middlesex 2s – 18 games – 28th May 2016 to 2nd June 2018 (W18, A1, C1)

Unbeaten Streak: North Middlesex 2s – 24 games – 28th May 2016 to 1st September 2018 (W22, D2)

I would like to remind all readers that the league’s database only contains statistical data which has been submitted to the league since 2001. Please read my introductory piece for the necessary caveat about ‘league records.’ The league web site (www.middlesexccl.com) now allows any player’s complete playing history, as recorded in the league’s database, to be seen. Just by entering and selecting a name from the search box on the Player Stats page.