As a seven-year-old, my family moved across the ditch to Melbourne for work. I was gutted to begin with – it was too hot, there was too many flies and I had to watch a new game with an oval ball that was nothing like my beloved rugby.
Then it happened: I went to my first Boxing Day Test, roaring along with 73,000 other fans.
I was in love.
Cricket took up my fancy from then on out and watching the Australian Test team was one of my favourite past-times, not that I would ever admit that to my friends and family back in New Zealand.
I moved back to New Zealand in 2004, unfortunately missing the opportunity to support and watch live what I believe to be the greatest era for an international Test cricket team – the 2005-2008 Australian squad.
Most regular starting XI
1. Matthew Hayden
2. Justin Langer
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Damien Martyn
5. Michael Hussey
6. Michael Clarke
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Stuart Clark
11. Glenn McGrath
Let’s go through a few categories to determine what made them so great.
Batting
Just an unbelievable batting lineup from top to bottom.
Starting as openers, two of the greatest to ever do it, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden. The two lefties formed a formidable pair at the top of the order.
The big man, Hayden, finished his career with an average of 50.85. This is the ninth-best batting average of an opener ever, and the best post-1980s. He was a devastating player, capable of finesse and power all in the same over.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
On the other hand, little Langer was the perfect accompaniment, comfortable playing the second fiddle role. He could also take over the top of the innings where required.
With 23 hundreds, a top score of 250 and an average of 45.27, Langer proved that he was one of the great openers of all time as well.
Moving down the order, what more could you want than Ricky Ponting coming in at number three? Finishing his career with an average of 51.85 and a staggering 41 hundreds to his name, it was simply unfair for teams who cracked through the openers early to have Ponting walk to the middle.
A young Michael Clarke was beginning to hit his straps as this team was taking off. Only averaging a measly 28 in 2005, he dominated 2006 and 2007, averaging 71.50 and 80.00 in those years respectively.
Adding to the list, Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist rounding out the batting order made this if not the best, one of the greatest batting lineups to ever play together.
Bowling
When you can throw out two of the greatest wicket takers to ever play the game in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, you know that your team is going to be spectacular as a bowling lineup. Adding in a young, rampaging Brett Lee who came in as the scariest bowler in world cricket, this lineup was a bowling attack to be feared.
Mandatory Credit: Hamish Blair/ALLSPORT
Even though McGrath was approaching the twilight zone of his career during this period, he could still put the ball exactly where he wanted. His wicket-taking slowed down after a rapid 2005 in which he took 62 wickets, but his average stayed consistent around his career average of 21.64.
Stuart Clark finished his career with a sparkling average of 23.86, putting him ahead of some of the greats of the game: D.K. Lillee and Courtney Walsh, to name a couple.
I remember watching Brett Lee’s first test match and getting so excited to see a bowler bowl that fast. He was a marvel. When Lee came on and he ran in with a head of steam it was popcorn-inducing television.
While he probably underwhelmed for what he could have been, he was so feared around the world that it was completely unfair to have McGrath and Clark start off the innings and then bring Lee and Warne on next.
There isn’t anything I can add to the Shane Warne biography that hasn’t already been said. However, he did have the most prolific bowling season of all time in 2005, taking 96 Test wickets.
He was a constant menace and wicket-taking god. What a terrible time it must have been for any batting lineup, if you escaped the murderers’ row of fast bowlers, S.K. Warne was waiting for you.
Results
This Australian Test cricket team went on an unbelievable run of 21 games without a loss, 20 of these being wins. They started with beating the ICC World XI in October 2005 by 210 runs, and finished in January 2008 with a victory over India by 122 runs.
The highlights of the run were a dominant 5-0 victory in the Ashes series over England at home, a 3-0 slugfest against South Africa in South Africa and another 3-0 series win over the West Indies.
The only blemish on the record was a drawn match with South Africa, however, the Aussies were only five wickets away from winning this one as well.
They were simply outstanding across all of these games, winning three matches by an innings and another five by over 200 runs. The names they had in their squad were the stuff of legend – a handful of them should make anyone’s all-time Test team list.
Their depth was unquestionable, their skill level immense and simply put, they had the ‘it’ factor, being the team that everyone in world cricket loved to hate.
Overall, there have been some fantastic cricket teams over the years but this would be my pick for the most dominant ever. It was a shame for me that I never got to outwardly celebrate their greatness as I was back in New Zealand, so had to covertly watch with awe.
I’ll never forget watching this team, seeing my heroes Warne, Gilchrist and Hayden walking out to rapturous applause, knowing that we were all going to see something spectacular.
They were unbeatable for so long and are the greatest Test team to ever play the game.
Republican
Guest
......a good reason to migrate as many younger Australians are looking to do.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Great for them then … they will rule the world in all sports!!!
Republican
Guest
......it is possibly too hot due to Climate Change. NZ will be the least impacted country by CC, a very gentle maritime climate is theirs, while we will be the most impacted, a continent of extreme dry and heat.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yep and it makes a difference. How much potential talent goes wasted when kids take the lethargic attitude I spoke of.
Ben Simpson
Roar Pro
Not the case in NZ as a teacher I can report. Our kids bloody love getting out on the sports field!
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
As a school teacher I’ll tell you why: come weekly sport’s afternoon so many contemporary teenagers sook and moan that it’s too hot and simply aren’t interested. Far cry from the 1980s when I was at school.
Republican
Guest
Australian Cricket and indeed Sport has devolved mediocre to say the least. Conversely NZ are going ahead in leaps and bounds, especially considering the population disparity between our nations. NZ are our equal in both Men and Women Cricket and rated higher internationally than our men across most versions of the game. The women are about to win the T20 series v us in NZ I expect as well. The Kiwis are our equal in League a code hardly niche in NZ yet between 30 and 40% of the NRL clubs are either Kiwi or PI heritage. NZ have longe been our equal in Netball, recently defeating us in the Constellation Cup. Union isn't worth mentioning since this code is a religion in NZ, while the it has long struggled for true GR support in this country, afforded O2 by a significant Kiwi diaspora in Oz and is close to extinction here truth be told. It is difficult to fathom why we continue to regress in our sporting pedigree compared to a nation of only 5.5 mill. There are really no excuses considering our obsessive sporting culture and the resources obscenely directed at our elite sporting brands. NZ win or lose v Australia, often went away winners when the population card was played but these days its rarely played because they simply defeat us at all and sundry.
Marcus
Guest
S Waugh only played 5 tests against the Windies in the 80’s. Whilst it fair to say he wasn’t the batsman he would become, he still had the 6th highest average of anyone in the time at 41.37, compared to Border who averaged 32.25 in the same period. The Windies were so bad against spin Australia would be the cheaper than that pace attack would get them.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
In 1989, they played just as many games over just as many months and Australia lost only one match all tour. I will dare say that the quality of the English national as well as county sides was a touch higher in 1989 than in 1948. In my opinion, one of the best overseas performances ever was Australia in Pakistan in late 1998. In late 1982, we had gone there and played 3 tests, 3 practice first class matches and 3 ODIs without winning a single match. Three tours later there in the aforementioned late 1998 we played the exact same number of games of the exact same formats and didn’t lose any of them. That was particularly meritorious given what a tough outside of the box place to tour Pakistan was up until the end of the 20th Century, not to mention the quality of their side full stop, let alone playing at home in their own conditions.
Ben Simpson
Roar Pro
No worries Ace. Was a great team to covertly support as a kiwi living in Aussie. Just dripping with classy batsmen and skill full bowlers. A joy to watch
Ace
Roar Rookie
Have to agree that it is a truly great team. Great batting line up and bowling attack. In his short career Stuart Clark was brilliant in support of the others. May have actually reaped the benefit in supporting them. Michael Clarke also useful with his left armers. The middle order certainly would be licking their lips in just following the top three A great side..thank you for the reminder
bazza200
Guest
So how many other teams and not lost a game on tour ? before or since ?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Steve Waugh's consecutive 90 at Brissie and 91 Perth vs WI in 1988 were in prime bouncy time on lively wickets. Great innings.
Aussie D
Guest
That would depend on whether it was before or after the rule changes brought about in 1990? whereby only 1 bouncer was allowed per over. The likes of Steve Waugh struggled in the test arena against the Windies prior to the rule change.
Marcus
Guest
For me the Windies team is overrated. Sure they didn’t lose series, but they didn’t win everything like Waugh’s team did. They were also very poor against spin, AB and Bob Holland bowled them out and neither of they are a quarter of Warne and McGill. Great pace attack but too much of a one trick pony. Langer and Hayden would make them tired, Ponting would hook them, S Waugh would be bloody minded and just tell the to get back and bowl, MWaugh and Martyn would be graceful before Gilly destroyed them. They would make enough runs for the bowlers to defend.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
They had a two month world cup until late May 2007, just didn’t have a pre home season tour anywhere in the August to October window. Prior to that world cup, they played a three match ODI series in Kiwi Land. Just didn’t do a pre home summer tour in the August to October time frame. Probably luckily, as Warne, McGrath and Langer were all retired. A year later, in September-October 2008, we lost 2-0 in India.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Bradman’s supposed invincibles was pretty much the home Ashes of 1946-47, the following home summer against absolute minnows India, then of course 1948, and then a follow up home Ashes 1950-51 with a home series against a still developing West Indies side in 1951-52 and a tour of a not particularly powerful South Africa in 1949-50 I think it was. Come 1953 they lost the Ashes, kind of parallels with 2005, and then lost further home and away Ashes series in 1954-55 and 56. The core players of those three successive Ashes lossses included all of the champions of 1948 such as Morris, Harvey, Lindwall, Hasset and of course Miller. Invincible indeed.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We don't. We have one good bowler, maybe two. One erratic one and a good offie. The current line up is over rated.
Rellum
Roar Guru
My small comment, Steve Waugh's team around 2000 was better. Stronger middle order though the late 90's team with prime Warne without his shoulder and finger injuries and Healy is up there too. That whole period was the best we had had in my time. The great Windies team is the greatest ever still.
Ben Simpson
Roar Pro
Just looked Rowdy/ they lost in June 2005 and then again in 2009 both in England. This run was in between. Not ideal bookends I might add haha