Last year, Australia stretched their world record win streak in test matches to 16 after beating India by 10 wickets in Mumbai in March, but then lost what proved to be a thrilling series 2-1 after defeats in Calcutta and Chennai.
The Baggy Greens gained immediate revenge, though, when they beat India 3-2 in the one-day series which followed. They then headed to England, where they triumphed in style in a triangular one-day series, also involving Pakistan, before they went on to trounce England 4-1 in the Ashes test series. Early this year, Australia outclassed South Africa 3-0 at home in a test series which had been widely billed as the battle for the mantle of world champions.
