Australian Cricket Team has attained almost everything imaginable in the cricketing world. Australia has registered the most win and highest number of ICC trophies for any team in International Cricket. The Australian Cricket history is filled with countless mind-boggling records and stats.
Here are the top ten moments in Australian Cricket history:
First Win on England Soil
Perhaps the first instance of greatness in the history of Australian Cricket. This is where the foundation of the Ashes Series was laid by the Australian cricketers. The Kangaroos defeated England for the first time in their home country in 1882 in a one-off match played at Oval. England media condemned the English Cricket Team for losing and published headlines such as England Cricket has died and the ashes will be taken to Australia for cremation. The next tour of the England Cricket Team to Australia in 1882-1883 was then dubbed as the quest for Ashes. However, the 1882 match itself is not included in the Ashes history, but it was the precursor that birthed one of the fiercest rivalries in International Cricket.
The Undefeated Reign at World Cup
Australian Cricket Team has won the 50 over World Cup on five different occasions. The only team in the history of Cricket to accomplish such a feat. Australia won the ICC CWC in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015. Each World Cup victory holds an unforgettable experience in the hearts and minds of Australians. The Kangaroos were undefeated at World Cup for more than 12 years in 34 games from the middle of 1999 to the middle of the 2011 World Cup.
Punter’s Twin Hundred in 100th Test
Ricky Ponting, the most successful Captain in International Cricket, was as successful a better as he was a captain. The former Australian Captain is the only skipper in cricketing history to score hundreds in both the innings of the 100th test. He helped his team seal the series by scoring an unbeaten 143 to chase 287 against South Africa in the fourth innings. Ricky’s unique record will forever be a significant landmark in Australian Cricket.
16 Consecutive Tests Win
Ricky Ponting led Australian Cricket Team has accomplished many remarkable feats but winning 16 consecutive Tests in a row between December 2005 to January 2008 still tops the chart. However, Steve Waugh led Australia has also achieved the same deed between October 1999 to February 2001. No other team has ever crossed 11 consecutive victories in Test Cricket.
Shane Warne’s 700th Wicket
Shane Warne, the leg-spinning wizard, passed away recently in Thailand due to a heart-attack. The legendary spinner was a fan favourite all over the world. He is the leading wicket-taker for Australia in International Cricket. In Ashes 2006/07, Warnie became the first bowler ever to take 700 wickets in Test Cricket when he dismissed Andrew Strauss at MCG in Boxing Day Test. The Australian crowd went bonkers at Warne’s magical feat and turned this moment immortal.
Gilly’s Fastest Test Hundred
Adam Gilchrist, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was always a dynamo ready to explode. Gilchrist was going through a rough patch in 2006; however, he decided to change it all in the third match of Ashes 2006-07. He went berserk in the third inning of the Test match to smash a 57 ball ton, the second-fastest in the history of Test Cricket. He regained his form in the most memorable way possible.
Ashes 2006-07 Whitewash
Australia wanted to reclaim Ashes after losing it in a close final Test match against England in 2005. The 2006-07 Ashes reimposed the Australian supremacy as they whitewashed England by winning all five matches of the series to achieve the rare feat last accomplished in 1920-21 Ashes. The series was special because many notable Australian Cricketers such as Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Glenn Mcgrath and Damien Martyn decided to bid adieu to International Cricket following Ashes 2006-07.
T20i World Cup Victory
A trophy that eluded Australia from its inception back in 2007. It was the only title not included in the Australian Cricket cabinet before the 2021 T20i World Cup. Australia had once reached the ICC T20i World Cup final in 2010 but was defeated by their arch-rivals, England. In the 2021 tournament, the cricket experts and critiques did not place their bets on the Australian Cricket Team. However, Australia proved them all wrong by winning the World Cup trophy.
Lee & Kasprowicz’s Stubborn Resistance
The last match of the Ashes 2005 Series laid the foundation for the imminent whitewash of the England Cricket Team in the 2006-07 Ashes Series. Often hailed as probably the greatest Test match ever played in the history of Cricket. Australia lost the game by only two runs at the end in a match where nobody gave them any chance. Lee and Kasprowicz formed an epic 59 run stand for the last wicket that gave hope to every Australian around the world.
Mcgrath’s Spellbounding Spell
Glenn Mcgrath produced a bowling exhibition in the 1997 Ashes Series against England at Lords. Mcgrath’s swing bowling under the overcast conditions dismantled the English batting line-up. His 8 wickets for 38 in an innings restricted England to only 77 runs, the lowest total at Lords in Tests since 1888. His spell at Lords is rated as one of the most incredible fast-bowling spells ever in the history of International Cricket.
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