Australian coach Darren Lehmann praised his side’s Test series win over South Africa as the greatest achievement of his coaching career.
Home-ground advantage has taken on a life of its own in Test cricket in recent years – in 2013, there were just two victories recorded by touring sides and both came in Zimbabwe.
Australia bucked the trend to rise to No.2 in the ICC’s Test rankings after inflicting the Proteas’ first Test series loss since the two teams butted heads five years ago.
“To win away from home (that makes it the greatest achievement), because that’s what we talk about,” Lehmann said.
“We know we’re going to play well at home – that’s a given, with the way we know all the pitches.”
Time will tell if the momentous series victory heralds a changing of the guard in Test cricket, as South Africa reel from the retirements of mainstays Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis in quick succession.
Of the XI who boosted Australia to a 245-run win in Cape Town on Wednesday, only Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson remain from the 2009 series.
For the likes of David Warner, who smashed three centuries on the tour and is in the form of his life, the 2-1 result will forever be a career highlight.
“I know tonight is going to be very special for all of us. It’s been a long time since we’ve won away from home,” said Warner, the obvious man of the match and series.
“I know it’s my first,” he added, reinforcing just how non-descript the 2-0 series win he played in the West Indies in 2012 was.
“We’re going to enjoy this and hopefully we can win many more away.”
Make no mistake, this was even more meritorious than the 2013-14 Ashes triumph.
England self combusted as Australia showed their potential on pitches they all knew well. South Africa crushed the visitors in Port Elizabeth and fought tooth and nail to hold out for a drawn series at Newlands.
“They outplayed us,” outgoing Proteas skipper Smith admitted.
Clarke suggested it was too early to say whether the 2-1 series win completed in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday was as special as a 5-0 annihilation of England.
“I don’t think it’s fair to compare it to the Ashes series that we just played. But I think an honest assumption would be that it’s as good,” Clarke said.
“Any time that you beat the No.1 team in the world, that’s extremely special.”
Worlds Biggest
Guest
No doubt the boys celebrated long and hard, a wonderful achievement. I said before the series that I'd be happy if we drew the series. Great MJ and Clarke are now home for much needed R & R. Clarke looked absolutely busted in his presser, not withstanding the long flight it's been a huge 7-8 months of Cricket. O'Keefe can't do any more than he is at the moment. If he gets selected for the Pakistan Tour it will be well deserved. I would bring him and leave Rhino at home to get ready for the Indian series at home. The one change I would make is Rogers. He has served Austalia very well however at 36 it's time to bring in a new opener and start the succession planning. Be it Hughes, Burns or Silk et al one of them needs to open against the Pakis. I could see Rhino playing the Indian series and then calling it a day. Hads to play the World Cup and then retire. Starc, Siddle or Bird to come in for Rhino for the Windies Tour. Paine or Whiteman to come in for Haddin. Really important the selectors get this right.
JohnB
Guest
His first 2 Shield 5 fors in that game. You can say that shows how well he's going now and he's on the improve, or that that shows his career performance is consistently overstated, but even someone like me who has always thought his performance didn't warrant the vociferous calls for him on forums like this can't argue that he hasn't had a good season. And if not him as a second spinner who?
Nudge
Guest
Late 2012
Spooky
Guest
When did England beat India away, wasn't that away in 2013?
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Great win. People should be talking now about Steve O'Keefe has to be a certainty for the UAE tour. Taking 11 wickets in the recent shield match, over 30 wickets at around 21 for the season, over 100 wickets at under 25 for his career, leading domestic spinner for the last 3 years or so. As another commenter said on another page, his flat trajectory might be an added bonus in the Emirates. If he isn't added as the second spinner, there can be no doubt whatsoever at bias against him from the authorities