How it was done - Australia's record streak:

1. Zimbabwe v Australia, Harare Sports Club, Harare, 14-17 October 1999

The Australians were coming off a series loss in Sri Lanka but took little time to acquaint themselves with conditions in Zimbabwe.

The first-ever Test between the two nations was dominated by an unbeaten century from Steve Waugh (151*) - an innings which cemented his place in history as the only Australian to reach three figures against each of the eight nations then lined up alongside Australia in the Test arena.

Zimbabwe's batsmen, by contrast, offered two disappointing efforts. Only Neil Johnson (75) held firm as they compiled a first innings total of 194. Murray Goodwin (91) and Trevor Gripper (60) applied themselves to ensure that the second innings was a slightly more productive affair, but a collapse of 9/78 (in the space of only twenty-five overs) ensued soon after Gripper's departure.

Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Colin Miller all enjoyed excellent games with the ball.

The match was veteran wicketkeeper Ian Healy's final Test.

2. Australia v Pakistan, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, 5-9 November 1999

With a superb partnership of 152 on the opening day of a three-match series, Yousuf Youhana (95) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (88) provided the impression that Pakistan had the potential to offer Australia a significant fight. It was a false dawn. Around a hard-hitting Moin Khan (61) innings, the tourists frittered away their last seven wickets in quick time to be dismissed for 367.

Huge partnerships at either end of the Australian innings - Michael Slater (169) and Greg Blewett (89) added 269 for the opening wicket and Shane Warne (86) and Scott Muller (6*) another eighty-six for the last - then reinforced the inadequacy of the Pakistani total. Mark Waugh (100) stroked a fine century of his own and, on debut, Adam Gilchrist (81) also starred, plundering a half century in almost even time against a rapidly tiring attack.

Saeed Anwar (119) and Youhana (75) produced a 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket in Pakistan's second innings but the lower order folded badly again. The last seven wickets tumbled for the addition of only sixty-seven runs; Damien Fleming (5/59) ended with nine wickets for the Test; and Australia was left needing a mere seventy-four to win. It was a task achieved without the loss of a wicket.

3. Australia v Pakistan, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 18-22 November 1999

Undoubtedly the hardest-fought and most exciting of the sixteen wins, this one was achieved in remarkable style. After close to four days, the home team was in enormous trouble; at 5/126 as it pursued the unlikely victory target of 369, it seemed that a draw might be the best result that it could hope to achieve.

Apparently, Adam Gilchrist (149*) and Justin Langer (127) had not read the script, however. The two Western Australian left handers produced an unflinching sixth wicket stand that yielded 238 runs. The only sour note was that Langer - who had come into the match fighting to retain his spot in the team - was eventually dismissed five runs short of victory. It was Gilchrist, who was playing in just his second Test, to whom the honour of hitting the winning runs fell instead.

Earlier in the match, Mohammad Wasim (91), Michael Slater (97) and Saqlain Mushtaq (6/46) had each figured prominently. Australia assumed a twenty-four run lead on the first innings but then lost its grip when Inzamam (118), Ijaz Ahmed (82) and Saeed (78) made the most of beautiful conditions on the fourth day.

Azhar Mahmood (2/43) took two vital wickets during the final session to push Pakistan closer to the brink of success. But, in the end, the quality of his bowling became lost amid the phenomenal events that were to follow. Only Don Bradman's party of 'Invincibles', with their famous effort at Headingley in 1948, can lay claim to having participated in a more successful Australian fourth innings run chase.

4. Australia v Pakistan, WACA Ground, Perth, 26-28 November 1999

The legacy of the defeat in Hobart loomed large over the first day's play in the Third Test in Perth. Understandably in the circumstances, Pakistan gave the look of a thoroughly demoralised team, crashing against a three-pronged pace attack to be skittled for 155.

Mohammad Akram (5/138) bowled bravely to fire thoughts of a revival, his pace and bounce proving disarming in an innings in which only two players made it past a score of twenty-eight. With that man Justin Langer (144) by his side, Ricky Ponting (197) set about making his opponents pay for their inability to dismiss him quite as cheaply, though. The two produced a record 327 run union for the fifth wicket, and the result of the Test was close to a foregone conclusion by the time that they were finally parted ˆ after the equivalent of more than a full day at the crease together.

Ijaz (115) and Wasim Akram (52) produced stern resistance in the face of the near-inevitable. But, with a first innings deficit of 296 runs already staring them squarely in the face, a way back into the game against the accurate pace bowling of Glenn McGrath (who took seven wickets for the match), Michael Kasprowicz (seven) and Damien Fleming (five) proved impossible to find. The eventual margin of defeat was an innings and twenty runs.

5. Australia v India, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 10-14 December 1999

The newly-arrived Indian tourists raised hopes of brighter things to come when they removed four Australian batsmen before lunch on the opening day of the First Test in Adelaide. Only gloom ensued, however. Steve Waugh (150) and Ricky Ponting (125) demoralised their opponents with a 239 run partnership that completely recast the game. Shane Warne (86) also played another breezy knock to swell the Australian total to 441.

The Indian middle order battled bravely in its first innings but the rapid subsidence of both the upper order and the tail left the visitors staring at a deficit of 156 runs. The decision which led to the departure of Sachin Tendulkar (61) - to a catch at short leg off Warne - was the beginning of an ominous decline.

After Greg Blewett (88) had laboured over the highest score of an otherwise unremarkable Australian second innings, controversy then erupted late on the fourth day. For the second time in the match, Tendulkar (0) was the victim of a dubious decision - this time falling lbw after he had been struck on the back while trying to avoid a Glenn McGrath (3/35) bouncer that kept lower than expected. As he headed off the field, so India's hopes of saving the match went too. Swing bowler Damien Fleming (5/30) indulged himself as the tourists folded to be dismissed for the miserable total of 110, plunging to a 285 run defeat in the process.

6. Australia v India, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 26-30 December 1999

This Test was distinguished by a continuation of Melbourne's poor luck with post-Christmas weather, a glorious Tendulkar century, and a sizzling debut from Australian paceman Brett Lee.

Even in spite of the loss of a considerable portion of the match to bucketing rain, the Australians still managed to conjure a decisive 180 run victory.

In large part, this was due to the measured batting of Michael Slater (91), Adam Gilchrist (78) and Ricky Ponting (67), each of whom wore down an enthusiastic Indian attack on the way to helping Australia to a first innings total of 405.

Tendulkar (116) held the Indians together with arguably the most beautifully crafted Test innings of the 1999-2000 Australian summer, but he received little support from a collection of teammates who seemed overawed by the hostile pace that was being generated by Lee (5/47).

By the time, late on the fourth day, that the Indians were set a target of 376 to win the Test, there had been no general improvement in the outlook. Tendulkar (52) top scored again, and received solid assistance from the aggressive Hrishikesh Kanitkar (45). But, against an even attack, the tourists could not hold out beyond the tea break, ironically stumbling to defeat at about the same time as the sun emerged for the first time in the entire match.

7. Australia v India, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 2-4 January 2000

The manner of their defeats in Adelaide and Melbourne notwithstanding, events in Sydney assumed even worse proportions for the Indians. Until having his innings cut short by another contentious decision, Tendulkar (45) took it upon himself to show that strokeplay was far from impossible. But his judgement in electing to bat first in the Third Test, in conditions aiding prodigious swing and seam movement, was shown to be badly flawed. An insipid performance against Glenn McGrath (5/48) and Brett Lee (4/39) consigned the Indians to the paltry total of 150. They never recovered.

Although, even by his own admission, it was not his greatest innings, Justin Langer (223) then voraciously punished a weary attack to record the highest ever individual score by an Australian in Tests against India. With Ricky Ponting (141*), he added 190 for the fifth wicket to completely kill off any thoughts of a contest. The Australians' decision to close at 5/552 almost had a merciful air about it.

>From the very depths of despair, Indian opener VVS Laxman (167) played a wonderful counter-attacking innings. But, on a surreal third day that extended well beyond the expected finishing time, the Glenn McGrath (5/55)-led Australians still closed in on victory remorselessly. The final margin was an innings and 141 runs.

8. New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, 11-15 March 2000

Having already crushed the Black Caps in the series of one-day international matches which had preceded it, the Australians entered the First Test against New Zealand in Auckland in buoyant mood. And while they struggled to completely assert themselves at different stages of the match, they were always a step or two ahead of their opponents after Mark Waugh (72*) had guided them to the total of 214 on a pitch offering considerable assistance to spinners Daniel Vettori (5/62) and Paul Wiseman (3/49).

With Glenn McGrath (4/33) exerting characteristically impeccable control over his line and length, and Shane Warne (3/68) creeping inexorably closer to the point of overhauling Dennis Lillee's mark of 355 victims and becoming the greatest ever Australian Test wicket taker, the New Zealanders found themselves deep in trouble. They could do no better than muster a tally of 163 by the time that they were dismissed halfway through the second day.

Vettori (7/87) offered another brilliant bowling exhibition en route to helping to dismiss the Australians for 229 a second time. Gritty contributions came from Adam Gilchrist (59) and Justin Langer (47).

Although a defiant McMillan (78) innings gave rise to thoughts of a spectacular turnaround, the locals were never really a threat of successfully chasing the 281 they needed to win by then. Colin Miller (5/55) was the chief destroyer with his irresistible mix of medium pace and off spin, and there was even time for an otherwise largely unimpressive Warne (2/80) to inevitably seal his place in Australian history by initiating the final act of his team's 62 run win.

9. New Zealand v Australia, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 24-27 March 2000

The Second Test in Wellington looked like being another predominantly low scoring affair until the middle stages of the second day. It was then that Michael Slater (143) and Steve Waugh (151*) combined to add 199 runs - the biggest partnership of the series - for the fifth wicket in Australia's first innings, in so doing hoisting their team to a score of 419 and a lead of 131 runs.

On a pitch which encouraged batsmen and bowlers in roughly equal measure, the Kiwis lost their way from early in the Slater-Waugh liaison, missed some crucial opportunities, and never found a way to fully recover. In doing so, they diminished the threat that had been posed to the Australians by a pair of magnificent assaults with the bat from Chris Cairns (109 and 69) in totals of 298 and 294.

The all-rounder's fearsome brutality at the batting crease and his lionhearted determination with the ball did not really find enough support at any stage of the Test - particularly once it became evident that the New Zealanders would be forced to make do without an injured Vettori for long phases of the match. Accordingly, the Australians' ability to outmuscle and punish a struggling opponent was evident again as they worked their way to a disciplined six wicket triumph.

10. New Zealand v Australia, Westpac Trust Park, Hamilton, 31 March-3 April 2000

Hamilton's Westpac Trust Park - the scene of the Third Test - produced another pitch which aided each of the team's bowlers, although this time it was exponents of pace rather than spin to whom such help was directed. Brett Lee (5/77) and Glenn McGrath (4/58) were the principal Australian beneficiaries, again finding few players other than McMillan (79 and 30) and Cairns (37 and 71) in their way as they set about reducing the New Zealanders to totals of 232 and 229.

Having been brought to their knees by O'Connor (5/51) and Cairns (3/80), the visitors looked in rare bother at 5/29 but a critical bowling change allowed them to escape. Captain Stephen Fleming bravely threw down the gauntlet to Test debutant Daryl Tuffey to maintain the pressure as the home side's first change bowler. Fortune did not favour him. Five overs and thirty-six runs later, Damien Martyn (89*) had begun to lay the foundations of a tremendous recovery, a recovery further boosted by a typically whirlwind Adam Gilchrist (75) innings.

With an eventual first innings lead of twenty-three runs at its disposal and a superbly controlled century from Justin Langer (122*) to help it home in the second, Australia proceeded to claim a six wicket win.

11. Australia v West Indies, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, 23-25 November 2000

Probably the most forceful of all of Australia's twelve wins, this one took the form of a demolition that verged on the cruel. Shortly after lunch on the first day, the West Indians had reached the relatively respectable position of 2/45 after being sent in to bat. By the end of the session, they had been dismissed for 82.

Glenn McGrath (6/17) proved almost unplayable and no batsman made it past a score of twenty.

Debutant Marlon Black (4/83) and fellow paceman Mervyn Dillon (3/79) fought hard to restrict Australia's lead to 250 on the second day. But swashbuckling innings from Brett Lee (62*) and Adam Gilchrist (48) still swelled the Australian advantage to ultimately unmanageable proportions.

When West Indies batted a second time, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (62*) assembled an innings that displayed all of the fighting qualities for which he is renowned. But, once more, there was far too little in the way of collective resistance. At just beyond the scheduled halfway point of the match, the Australians claimed a place for themselves in history by equalling the 1984-85 West Indians' previously unchallenged achievement of eleven consecutive Test wins. McGrath (4/10) added similarly amazing second innings figures to his earlier haul to end the game with 10/27 from thirty-three overs.

12. Australia v West Indies, WACA Ground, Perth, 1-3 December 2000

It's hard to remember too many Tests that have effectively been settled inside their first hour. But, after West Indies crashed to 5/22 during that period, there was an air of inevitability which hung over proceedings consistently thereafter in this one.

McGrath (3/48) was at the peak of his powers again, sensationally snaring his three hundredth Test wicket and the tenth hat-trick in Australian Test history in the process. Ridley Jacobs (96*) and Wavell Hinds (50) profited from a succession of dropped catches to gamely lift the first innings total to a mark of 196.

>From there, it was always likely that Perth would be able to maintain its reputation for facilitating substantially-shortened Test matches. With Mark Waugh (119) leading the way, Australia declared late on the second day at 8/396 and the lead of 200 that it held proved more than satisfactory.

Hinds (41), Adams (40*) and Jacobs (24) worked hard to usher some respectability back into their side's performance. Against the pace of Lee (5/61), though, they were unable to prevent the team from plunging to another inadequate total. To add insult to injury, it was West Indies' own place at the top of the consecutive-wins table that was surrendered in the process, not to mention the team's proud unbeaten record at the WACA as well.

Australia's passage into rarefied air in the history books was assured.

13. Australia v West Indies, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 15-19 December 2000

There were various times during this match at which the Australians' hopes of another victory looked clouded. West Indies' start offered a particularly gloomy spectre in this sense, champion batsman Brian Lara (182) making a breathtaking return to form to lead the tourists to a score of 391 in his team's first innings. Jason Gillespie (5/89) snared the first five wickets of the innings and Colin Miller (5/81) the remainder but, by the time that Australia came to bat, the likelihood of the first five-day Test of the series seemed strong.

This likelihood was strengthened when openers Michael Slater (83) and Matthew Hayden (58) produced a blazing 156-run partnership at the top of the reply. Middle order players Ricky Ponting (92), Mark Waugh (63) and Damien Martyn (46) ˆ recalled to the Test arena in the absence of the injured Steve Waugh ˆ also assumed a major role in helping swell the total to 403.

In the end, it was a brilliant display of off spin bowling from Colin Miller which decisively swung the match. The West Indians reached a mark of 2/87 at one point but, once Lara (39) succumbed, they proceeded to implode against the slow bowler's subtle variations and surrendered their last eight wickets for a mere fifty-four runs.

Toward the modest target of 130, the fourth innings chase wasn't without its hiccups either. Australia fell to 4/48 before Justin Langer (48) and Martyn (34*) combined to guide their team most of the way home. Standing in for Waugh, acting captain Adam Gilchrist remarked that the result afforded him „the proudest moment‰ of his cricket career.

14. Australia v West Indies, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 26-29 December 2000

The fourth Test of the series and the third in which the West Indians failed to show suitable resolve with the bat.

In just his second Test, the composure of youngster Marlon Samuels (60* and 42) put his more experienced teammates to shame. Ridley Jacobs (42 and 23, along with an all-time Test record-equalling seven catches in the Australian first innings) also fought valiantly. But, even though the tourists did somehow manage to scramble away from the ignominy of following-on, totals of 165 and 109 were never likely to be enough.

Andy Bichel (5/60) and Jason Gillespie (6/40) were the respective destroyers with the ball for Australia and the two players who ostensibly set up the win. But it was also difficult to underplay the importance of a dogged century from Steve Waugh (121*) in the first innings, and measured half centuries from Justin Langer (80) and Mark Waugh (78*) in the second.

15. Australia v West Indies, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 2-6 January 2001

West Indies started the Centenary of Federation Test well enough with an opening partnership of 147 between Sherwin Campbell (79) and Wavell Hinds (70). But, from the point of mid-afternoon on day one onward, the life was again slowly squeezed out of their cause. Spinner Stuart MacGill (7/104) seized on a helpfully dry SCG pitch to confound the tourists, who slid from their early position of strength to the ultimately disappointing total of 272.

Steve Waugh (103) and Michael Slater (96) ˆ out for the ninth time in the nineties in Tests - led a brutally aggressive response. West Indies might have restricted the eventual first innings deficit to something far less than 180 runs, though, if gully fieldsman Jimmy Adams had held a catch to dismiss Adam Gilchrist (87) before the wicketkeeper-batsman had scored.

Some more excellence in the way of defiance from Campbell (54) and Hinds (46), together with resolute innings from Mahendra Nagamootoo (68), Ridley Jacobs (62) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (51), not only pushed the Test into a fifth day but presented Australia with another theoretically challenging target.

Pursuing 173 to win, the home team made a scratchy start. But another commanding innings from Slater (86*), and solid support from Steve Waugh (38), was enough to steer the Australians to a series whitewash.

16. India v Australia, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 27 February-1 March 2001

Although Shane Warne (4/47) and Glenn McGrath (3/19) had bowled their team into a strong position by dismissing India for a paltry 176 on the first day, Australia was theoretically in some bother of its own as it stumbled badly to a score of 5/99 at one point in the response.

It was then that the Antipodeans' amazing capacity to attack their way out of trouble came to the fore again. In a whirlwind partnership based almost entirely around devastating strokeplay, Adam Gilchrist (122) and Matthew Hayden (119) turned the Test on its ear. A free-hitting Warne (39) compounded India's frustration as Australia's total spilled over to 349.

Led by Sachin Tendulkar (76 & 65) and capitalising upon Australia's surprise decision to take just one specialist spinner into the Test, India produced a more determined batting display the second time around. But a freakish catch at mid wicket by Ricky Ponting, as he ran furiously to intercept a Tendulkar pull shot that had ballooned off the body of ducking short leg fieldsman Justin Langer, effectively sealed India's fate. Mark Waugh (3/40) and Jason Gillespie (3/45) shared the bowling spoils as the hosts lost their last eight wickets for fifty-four runs to set Australia the extremely modest target of forty-seven to win.

It took just twenty-five minutes for those runs to be scored as Australia went 1-0 up in the series.

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