Australia whitewashed England 5-0 in the 2006-07 Ashes — revenge for England's 2005 series win — with every Test won by a margin of over 200 runs, confirming Ponting's side as the dominant Test team of the decade.
England had won the 2005 Ashes 2-1 in one of cricket's greatest series. Ricky Ponting's side took the loss personally. By 2006-07, Australia — still with Warne, McGrath, and the same batting lineup, refreshed by Brett Lee at his fastest — returned to England for the return series in Australia.
England arrived in Australia as Ashes holders but without Andrew Flintoff (injured) for the opening Tests. Australia had rested Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath specifically to have them fresh for this series. It was explicitly conceived as revenge.
The first Test at Brisbane: Australia won by 277 runs. Adelaide: England held on for two days but lost by 6 wickets after being 551/6 in their first innings — a collapse that hurt them psychologically for the rest of the series.
Perth: Australia won by 206 runs. Melbourne: England needed the draw to extend the series into the final Test with any hope — Australia won by an innings and 99 runs. Sydney: England needed a consolation draw — Australia won by 10 wickets.
5-0. The first 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia since Jardine's 1932-33 side. McGrath's perfect farewell series. Warne's final Ashes. The most comprehensive Ashes victory of the modern era.
Adelaide — England 551/6 in first innings, then bowled out and lose
Melbourne — England lose by innings, series gone
Sydney — 5-0 complete, McGrath's and Warne's farewell Ashes
November 2006
First Test, Brisbane — Australia win by 277 runs
December 2006
Adelaide and Perth — Australia win both
December 2006 / January 2007
Melbourne — series sealed, 4-0
January 2007
Sydney — 5-0 complete, Warne and McGrath farewell
Both Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath announced retirement after the Sydney Test. The series was their farewell to Test cricket. Australia continued their dominance until the 2009 Ashes, when England reclaimed the urn.
The most comprehensive response to a series defeat in cricket history — Australia turned a 2-1 loss into a 5-0 win. The 2006-07 Ashes is studied as an example of how a dominant team responds to adversity with total control.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.