The number of ODI matches a team plays these days has dropped drastically, owing to a crammed international schedule and less interest from cricket boards.
But ODI cricket was at its peak between the 1990s and 2010s, with teams engaging in bilateral series and multi-team tournaments. Players also enthusiastically represented their teams in most of the matches played during that time.
And that’s one major reason, a lot of players featured in ODIs in a row during that phase. To pull off this feat, one needs to maintain a high level of fitness coupled with consistency in their performance.
This article will list the top 10 players with the most consecutive ODI matches.
Players with Most Consecutive ODI Matches
| Player | Consecutive Matches | Team | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 185 | India | 25 Apr 1990-24 Apr 1998 |
| Andy Flower | 172 | Zimbabwe | 23 Feb 1992-11 Apr 2001 |
| Hansie Cronje | 162 | South Africa | 4 Sep 1993-27 Mar 2000 |
| Shaun Pollock | 133 | South Africa | 28 Mar 2000-13 Feb 2005 |
| Richie Richardson | 132 | West Indies | 17 Jan 1987-1 Nov 1993 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 126 | India | 6 Dec 1991-3 May 1997 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 122 | Sri Lanka | 6 Nov 2005-24 Dec 2009 |
| Brendon McCullum | 122 | New Zealand | 10 Sep 2004-13 Mar 2010 |
| Alistair Campbell | 121 | Zimbabwe | 19 Mar 1993-1 Apr 2000 |
| Mark Boucher | 120 | South Africa | 6 Oct 2002-1 Jul 2007 |
Key Insights
Sachin Tendulkar holds the unassailable record for playing the most consecutive matches in the ODI format. The former Indian batter featured in 185 ODI matches in a row for India from April 25, 1990, to April 24, 1998. This showcases Tendulkar’s commitment and endurance to the game he loved the most.
Andy Flower and Hansie Cronje are the other 2 players to feature in 150+ consecutive ODI matches.
Out of 142 consecutive ODIs for Cronje, 130 came while leading South Africa — the most consecutive matches as a captain.
New Zealand’s Jeff Wilson missed 271 consecutive matches between his 2 ODI appearances. Wilson played his career’s 4th ODI on March 28, 1993, and he played his 5th match on February 22, 2005.
Floyd Reifer, Errol Stewart, Dilhara Lokuhettige, and Joe Denly are the other 4 players who missed more than 200 ODIs for their respective teams.
Over 15 players have appeared in 100 or more successive matches in the ODI format.
