MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 30: Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates bowling Sarfraz Ahmed of Pakistan during day five of the Second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 30, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

After beating Pakistan in Sydney on the final day of the Test to sweep the tourists 3-0, it rounded out an up-and-down summer of Test cricket for the Australian side.

Two big losses at the hands of South Africa in November saw Australian cricket at the crossroads, but a third Test win over the Proteas coupled with three straight victories over Pakistan has Darren Lehmann's side looking strong once again.

Here at Zero Wicket we've reviewed Australia's entire Test summer, and we've come up with our top five stories from the series' against South Africa and Pakistan.

5Proteas put Australia to the sword in Hobart

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: Kyle Abbott of South Africa celebrates after taking the wicket of Mitchell Starc of Australia during day four of the Second Test match between Australia and South Africa at Blundstone Arena on November 15, 2016 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

It was the lowest moment of Australia's summer by far, but that Test shaped the rest of the summer for the Aussies in a good way.

The hosts were bowled out for just 85 - Steve Smith accounted for more than half the runs with 48* - and were smashed by South Africa, who went on to bowl Australia out for 161 in the second innings, and record a victory by an innings and 80 runs.

In the post-match press conference, Steve Smith said he was "embarrassed to be sitting here" after that performance and the selectors agreed, as Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill and Joe Mennie were all axed from the side, and Rod Marsh also stepped down as the head of selectors.

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