Under the captaincy of Steve Waugh, Australia have become the most accomplished cricket side in the world. They won the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in 2002 and once again underlined their status in 2003 with their second successive World Cup victory in South Africa in March. They showed they have explosive batsmen, disciplined strike bowlers of all types and superb fielders.
They beat India in the final by 125 runs and Ricky Ponting’s score of 140 not out was the highest in a World Cup final. During 2003 Australia also beat England (4-1), West Indies (3-1), Bangladesh (2-0) and Zimbabwe (2-0) in full Test series. In one of the Tests against Bangladesh, opener Matthew Hayden created a new Test batting world record of 380.
