Australia, as one of the best cricketing nations in the world, have had some memorable victories over the years.
Test cricket has been the pinnacle of the sport for as long as it has existed, and while Australia have always been near the top, they haven’t always been the best.
That has created some classic underdog moments over the years, as well as some miraculous series victories which simply weren’t expected.
Playing overseas against other top countries is always seen as a difficult challenge at the best of the times, while playing in the sub-continent sees Australia lose far more than they win.
But that doesn’t mean they haven’t ever picked up wins in that part of the world.
Series against the West Indies at times have also been incredibly difficult, while facing the swinging ball in England hasn’t always been Australia’s best friend.
Let’s count down Australia’s top five Test series victories of all-time.
3. 1995 tour of the West Indies
Australia went to the West Indies in 1995 without a victory over the Carribean nation group in any of their last eight series, either home or away.
They had been beaten 2-1 in the last home series, and 2-1 in the last away series, while each of the prior three series through the 1980s had seen Australia lose three out of the five Tests and win no more than one.
The West Indies weren’t ready to slow down either, heading into the series with named like Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Carl Hooper, Jimmy Adams, and a fearsome pace-bowling attack led by Curtly Ambrode and Courtney Walsh.
It’s not hard to see why Australia were written off as next to no chance of winning the series.
That lack of hope turned into something a little more positive after the first Test at Bridgetown though, with Australia’s attack mowing the West Indians out for 195 and 189 in their two innings, eventually setting up a ten-wicket win. It was a match set up by Glenn McGrath’s eight wickets, while all of the batsmen contributed.
Mark Taylor’s side then had to settle for a draw in St John’s, with rain impacting the Test and Courtney Walsh ripping through with nine wickets for the contest.
That led into the third Test at the Port of Spain where it was Curtly Ambrose’s turn to take nine wickets, reducing Australia to rubble with scores of just 128 and 105 possible on a pitch which was simply no fun to bat on.
Despite that, Steve Waugh managed half of Australia’s runs in the first innings, making 63 not out and it would set the tone for the eventual series win to the Aussies as the teams traveled to Kingston.
The future captain’s double hundred in the first innings set Australia up for a lead of more than 200 after the West Indies had been knocked over for 265, and there was simply no looking back as Australia claimed a famous 2-1 victory.
