Forget the Caribbean dream in 1995, the shock Ashes domination in 1989 or the Indian ‘Final Frontier’ in 2004 – if Australia beat India at Dharamsala it will be their greatest Test series victory of the modern era.
And in the years ahead it could become just as iconic as those three monumental Test successes, marking a major turning point for the Australian team, just as they did.
In 1989, when Australia arrived in England they were famously written off by their own media as the “worst team ever to leave Australia”. Similarly blunt assessments were made of this current Australian side prior to their tour of India.
Allan Border’s men deserved the pre-Ashes tag they received, having just been hammered 3-0 at home by the Windies, with each of those losses by a massive margin. Not to mention that Australia had won only seven of their past 45 Tests before that 1989 Ashes.
That gloomy history was tossed aside as Australia produced one of the most unexpected performances of all time, demolishing England 4-0.
They never looked back, losing only seven Tests over the next four years as Border moulded a combative and highly-skilled outfit.
The only thing which stood between that Australian team and world domination was the rampant West Indies. By 1995 Border was gone but Australia had continued to bloom and were ready to steal the Test crown.
They encountered a challenge equally as daunting as that which Steve Smith’s men have faced – defeating the Windies on their home turf.
Just like the current series, that one also entered the fourth Test deadlocked at 1-1.
Australia had been gallant to push the series to a decider but were expected to be overrun by the world’s number one side.
Instead, the youthful Australian team bulldozed their highly-fancied opponents and officially ended the West Indies’ golden era.
In doing so they began their own period of nigh-on perfection which would stretch for more than a decade, reaching its zenith in 2004 when finally they triumphed in India.
Australia have had several fantastic series victories since 2004, including the 5-0 Ashes whitewash of 2013-14 and the rousing 2-1 victory in South Africa soon after.
That incredible run in late 2013 and early 2014 hardly seemed real, a bit like Australia’s totally unexpected heroics in India this past month.
The difference is that, back then, there was always a nagging sense that it would not, that it could not last for too long.
The wins against England and South Africa were built on the back of a once-in-a-lifetime burst from Mitchell Johnson and extraordinary support performances from Ryan Harris.
Johnson was never going to maintain such phenomenal form and Harris’ wonky 34-year-old body was forever on the verge of permanent malfunction.
Their dynamic efforts papered over the fragility of Australia’s batting line-up, which was not far from losing two of its pillars in Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers, with no reasonable replacements in sight.
Compare that to where Australia sit currently. Their three pacemen used in this series in India have an average age of 25 years old, and the average age of their top six at Ranchi was just 27. Meanwhile, both their spin bowlers Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe look to have several good years each left in them.
Aside from 33-year-old Shaun Marsh, who was only drafted into the team as a horses-for-courses selection and may well go straight back out of the line-up, not one member of Australia’s first-choice XI is anywhere near retirement.
Their age profile suggests they have significant improvement left in them. The only gaps in the line-up are number six, where Maxwell has staked a claim, and the wicketkeeper position.
If Australia can fix those two trouble spots they look set to become a commanding Test team once more.
Already they will have gained tremendous confidence and belief from their plucky efforts across the first three Tests in India.
I can only imagine that Australia have shocked even themselves with how well they have played.
Regardless of what occurs at Dharamsala, this series represents an enormous step forward for the Australian team.
Should they manage to execute what seemed impossible over the coming days, it could be the catalyst for another golden era in Australian Test cricket.
davSA
Guest
Us South Africans pride ourselves on both our fast bowling and ability to play fast bowling . Mitch Johnson in that series was not even human . He clearly was from a different planet . It was frightening and despite us getting carted a privilege to watch. World class players like Smith and Kallis who grew up on a diet of quicks and pacy wickets looked genuinely scared.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
While they'll be mighty disappointed in the batting this session, Australia's bowlers will be heartened by the assistance on offer from the pitch - some good, fast turn and bounce already and plenty of pace and carry for the quicks.
qwetzen
Guest
Ronan said: "McDonald’s economy rate across his four Tests was just 2,45rpo – that is freakishly frugal" It also highlights the danger of using tiny populations. McDonald had the 'luck' to play all of his 4 Tests against a strong, but determinedly defensive RSA. In the 7 innings he bowled in the RSA team their collective s/rs were; 2.7, 2.37, 2.71, 2.43, 2.40, 2.79 & 4.21
qwetzen
Guest
Poor Macca. He looked like the ultimate wimpy kid for having the bad luck to be the act to follow Symonds.
qwetzen
Guest
Dear Mods, Why is it that for reasons unknown (and unexplained) so many of my posts get modded, with some even deleted, yet you continue to repeatedly allow the obscenity of; "Handscomb to wicketkeeper would solve our issue at 7"? Please adjust phasers to 'delete'.
Bob
Guest
Handscomb to wicketkeeper would solve our issue at 7. I know the argument that being the keeper would detract from his batting but we have a few players that could come in to bat. He can't be much worse than Wade with the gloves and is without question superior with the blade.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Andrew McDonald would be a walk-up start for the Australian Test team these days. A guy who averaged 40 with the bat in first-class cricket and was also a brilliant 5th bowler who excelled in bowling incredibly tight spells, exactly what Australia require given their 4 frontliners have enough strikepower. McDonald's economy rate across his four Tests was just 2,45rpo - that is freakishly frugal.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
Fair argument. Poor old Andrew McDonald. Looked like he was just finding his international feet, then injury and his window rather harshly closed.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, I don't get that. Unless they plan on doing a lot more double headers so they have more games without making the comp any longer I don't know how they fit that in with the cricket calendar. But in reality it wouldn't make any difference to tests, they play it concurrently with tests at present, and extra test matches would likely be at the start or end of the summer (most likely the end, the last test of the summer is the start of Jan and often the international season here is finished by the end of Jan or early Feb. Could easily plan some home tests for late Feb through March. Wouldn't be every year, but that way they could throw some extra tests in so they could play the nations they never get around to now.
Bee bee
Guest
Ha ha. Great answer. They should pick her for the Ashes and put her in the slips. Root will definitely struggle with Margot sledging him.
spruce moose
Guest
Superb
qwetzen
Guest
matth mysteriously said: "People sometimes forget that the 2013/14 Ashes was only the second time Mitch Johnson destroyed a strong team." Which coincidentally is two more than Brett Lee managed. The coincidence being that two is how many runs lower Johnson's average is than Lee's.
Steele
Guest
Achievement wise, I don't rate it as highly just because I don't rate this Indian team that highly. There's no Dravid or Tendulkar in this team. They really are flat track bullies. When there's been too much turn they've shown less skill than the Aussies. Also can't rate them due to their abysmal away record. Literally non competitive against N.Z, Eng, S.A and Aus in their last away series. This is not a great Indian side. However it has been such an enjoyable series, my favourite since 05 Ashes.
Simoc
Guest
I agree. This whole series has been a huge step forward for the Australian cricket team, no more so than batting out the last day for a draw on a spinning pitch. Normally they would meekly capitulate as England did there so recently. So if they contest each session of the test as well as they have to date, the Indians may crack. The Indians have to win to get the trophy. So lets hope the team puts in a big effort. A series win now would be the greatest and most unexpected in Australian cricket history.
qwetzen
Guest
"Would be good if Australia started having some summers where we played 8-10 home tests" You do know that CA are looking to expand the Chicken Comp don't you?
qwetzen
Guest
Margot Robbie.
qwetzen
Guest
"2013-14 Ashes. Johnson/Rhino weren’t the biggest difference. It was Haddin." That's just sooo wrong Pedro. And I'll never, ever forgive Mark Taylor for his performance when he presented the MotS to Johnson; "But what about Brad Haddin hey!". Never, ever. All the Oz bats scored runs that series, crikey! Australia's worst batting export even scored more than Bad Hands at a couple of runs lower average, whereas even with the phenomenal Harris at the other end Johnson absolutely dominated matches. He was super fast and incredibly accurate, especially with his bouncer. Even in these days of the heavy armoured batsman he simply terrorised the poms, wreaking such physical and mental havoc that most viewers would never have seen. So not Haddin, Johnson then daylight.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
The Simpson analogy i would go for would be Homer loses his bbq'd pig and he's chasing down the road, thru a river, garbage dump etc all while while saying to himself "it's still good, it's still good"
doogs
Guest
you can have keyboard bullies
doogs
Guest
thats odd. Seems most that knew him in the team really liked him and that he was great around the team. Hardly fits in with arrogant