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In the last 12 months, the Australian cricket team has won only four of 12 Tests – one against South Africa, one against India and two Tests against Sri Lanka.
But between the 14th of October 1999 in Harare, and the first of March 2001 in Mumbai, the Steve Waugh-led Australians won 16 successive Tests, a world record, most of them by massive margins.
Waugh was captain for 15 of them, with Adam Gilchrist stepping up for one with Waugh unavailable.
The usual suspects kept performing – like the Waugh twins, Gilchrist, Michael Slater, Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting with the bat, as did Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Damian Fleming and Shane Warne with the ball.
Even Scott Muller, of “can’t bowl, can’t throw” infamy, performed in one of his two-Test career.
So let’s relive those golden days:
Zimbabwe at Harare, Australia by 10 wickets
Zimbabwe 194 and 232, Australia 422 and 0-5.
October 14-17, 1999.
Three points – Steve Waugh 151*.
Two points – Mark Waugh 90.
One point – Glenn McGrath 3-44 and 3-46.
Others – Damian Fleming 65, Shane Warne 3-69 and 3-68, Colin Miller 3-66.
Pakistan at the Gabba, Australia by 10 wickets
Pakistan 367 and 281, Australia 575 and 0-24.
November 5-9, 1999.
Three points – Michael Slater 169.
Two points – Fleming 4-65 and 5-59.
One point – Mark Waugh 100.
Others – Warne 86 and 2-80, Greg Blewett 89, Gilchrist 81, McGrath 2-116 and 2-63, Scott Muller 2-72.
Pakistan at Hobart, Australia by four wickets
Pakistan 222 and 392, Australia 246 and 6-369.
November 18-22, 1999.
Three points – Justin Langer 59 and 127.
Two points – Gilchrist 149*.
One point – Warne 3-45 and 5-110.
Others – Slater 97, Miller 3-68.
Pakistan at the WACA, Australia by an innings and 120
Pakistan 155 and 276, Australia 451.
November 26-28, 1999.
Three points – Ponting 197.
Two points – Langer 144.
One point – Michael Kasprowicz 4-53 and 3-79.
Others – McGrath 3-44 and 4-49, Fleming 3-48 and 2-86.
India at Adelaide, Australia by 285 runs
Australia 441 and 8 (dec) 239, India 285 and 110.
December 10-14, 1999.
Three points – Steve Waugh 150.
Two points – Warne 86, 4-92 and 2-21.
One point – Ponting 125.
Others – Blewett 88, Fleming 3-70 and 5-30, McGrath 2-49 and 3-35.
Steve Waugh. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
India at MCG, Australia by 180
Australia 405 and 5 (dec) 208, India 238 and 195.
December 26-30, 1999.
Three points – Gilchrist 78 and 55.
Two points – Slater 91.
One point – Lee 5-47 and 2-31.
Others – Ponting 67, Mark Waugh 51* and 2-12, McGrath 3-39.
India at SCG, Australia by an innings and 141
India 150 and 261, Australia 5 (dec) 552.
January 2-4, 2000.
Three points – Glenn McGrath 5-48 and 5-55.
Two points – Langer 223.
One point – Ponting 141*.
Others – Lee 4-39 and 2-67.
New Zealand at Eden Park, Australia by 62
Australia 214 and 229, New Zealand 163 and 218.
March 11-15, 2000.
Three points – Langer 46 and 47.
Two points – Mark Waugh 72*.
One point – Miller 5-55.
Others – Gilchrist 59, Warne 3-68 and 2-80, McGrath 4-33.
New Zealand at Wellington, Australia by six wickets
New Zealand 298 and 294, Australia 419 and 4-177.
March 24-27, 2000.
Three points – Slater 143.
Two points – Steve Waugh 151*.
One point – Lee 3-49 and 3-87.
Others – Damian Martyn 78, Warne 4-68.
New Zealand at Hamilton, Australia by six wickets
New Zealand 232 and 229, Australia 252 and 4-212,
March 31-April 3, 2000.
Three points – Gilchrist 75 and 10 dismissals.
Two points – Langer 122*.
One point – Lee 5-77 and 3-46.
Others – Martyn 89*, McGrath 4-58 and 2-50.
West Indies at the Gabba, Australia by an innings and 126
West indies 82 and 124, Australia 332.
November 23-25, 2000.
Three points – McGrath 6-17 and 4-10.
Two points – Lee 62* and 3-40.
One point – Slater 54.
West Indies at the WACA, Australia by an innings and 27
West Indies 196 and 173, Australia 8 (dec) 396.
December 1-3, 2000.
Three points – Mark Waugh 119.
Two points – Hayden 69.
One point – Lee 5-61.
Others – Gilchrist 50, McGrath 3-48, Gillespie 3-46.
West Indies at Adelaide, Australia by five wickets
West Indies 391 and 141, Australia 403 and 5-130.
December 15-19, 2000.
Three points – Colin Miller 5-81 and 5-32.
Two points – Ponting 92.
One point – Slater 83.
Others – Hayden 58, McGrath 3-27.
West Indies at MCG, Australia by 352
Australia 364 and 5 (dec) 262, West Indies 165 and 109.
December 26-29, 2000.
Three points – Steve Waugh 121*.
Two points – Gillespie 3-48 and 6-40.
One point – Langer 80.
Others – Mark Waugh 78*, Andy Bichel 5-60, Miller 3-40.
Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden formed a great opening partnership. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
West Indies at SCG, Australia by 10 wickets
West Indies 272 and 352, Australia 452 and 4-174.
January 2-6, 2001.
Three points – Skater 96.
Two points – Steve Waugh 103.
One point – Stuart MacGill 7-104.
Others – Gilchrist 87, Ponting 51, Miller 2-73 and 4-102.
India at Mumbai, Australia by 10 wickets
India 176 and 219, Australia 349 and 0-47.
February 27-March 1, 2001.
Three points – Gilchrist 122.
Two points – Hayden 119.
One point – McGrath 3-19 and 2-25.
Others – Warne 4-47, Mark Waugh 3-40, Gillespie 3-45.
A golden era alright, matched seven years later by Ricky Ponting’s team.