KEY POINTS:
Played 12, Won 11, Lost 0, Drawn 1 since losing the Ashes, September 2005
Won v ICC XI, Sydney, October 2005. Margin: 210 runs
The World XI cannot cope against the dual leg-spin of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill and collapse for 190 and 144. The two leggies take 15 of the 20 wickets to fall, propelling their side to such an emphatic win that the entire concept of a World XI is left up in the air.
Won v West Indies, Brisbane, November 2005. 379 runs.
Australia post 435 after a Ricky Ponting century and quickly go about the business of exposing every weakness in the West Indies batting line-up. Warne grabs a five-wicket bag in the first innings, and takes a further four in the second as the Windies roll over for 129.
Won v West Indies, Hobart, November 2005, 9 wickets
The West Indies resume where they left off, being routed for 149 batting first, after which Australia saunter through to 406; centuries from Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey. The Windies rally in their second innings to score 334 - but it's too little, too late. Australia need just 78 for the win.
Won v West Indies, Adelaide, November 2005. 7 wickets.
The West Indies produce their best performance of the series but Australia still romp home. The tourists post 405 batting first and have Australia in trouble at 277 for seven, before Hussey leads a fantastic rearguard, ending unbeaten on 133. Trailing by 23 runs, the West Indies then collapse for 204, allowing Australia to win at a canter.
Drawn v South Africa, Perth, December 2005
The only test since the Ashes series in which Australia didn't win, so South Africa must have done something right. Honours are fairly even after the first two innings before Australia cut loose at their second turn at bat, scoring 528 for eight. South Africa never attempt to chase the target of 491, but do well to last the 129 overs available, ending at 287 for five.
Won v South Africa, Melbourne, December 2005. 184 runs
Ponting and Hussey again set the scene for Australia but South Africa prove competitive and trail by just 44 on the first innings. But Australia again bat impressively to rack up 321 for seven and this time the pressure proves too great for South Africa, who collapse for 181.
Won v South Africa, Sydney, January 2006.
8 wickets
Jacques Kallis and Ashley Prince score centuries to push South Africa's first innings through to 451 and then the tourists steal a rare march on their hosts, dismissing them for 359. Normal coverage is resumed when South Africa are bowled out for 194 in the second dig, leaving the hosts a winning target of 287. Hayden and Ponting make no race of it.
Won v South Africa, Cape Town, March 2006.
7 wickets
Stuart Clark finds Newlands to his liking on test debut, taking nine wickets in the match as South Africa start their home series in the worst possible fashion. Bowled out for 205 and 197, they eventually leave Australia just 94 to win.
Won v South Africa, Durban, March 2006. 112 runs
A Kallis century gives South Africa a lifeline in an otherwise disappointing first innings, but Hayden and Ponting strike centuries to extend Australia's lead to 410. Warne takes six wickets as the hosts are bowled out for 297.
Won v South Africa, Johannesburg,
March/April 2006. 2 wickets.
Justin Langer retires hurt after getting hit in the head but is padded up at the end of the test as Australia chase down the winning total of 292, getting there only after a 19-run stand between the last fit pair at the wicket. South Africa had led by 30 runs on the first innings but, again, could not exploit their advantage in the second innings.
Won v Bangladesh, Fatullah, April 2006. 3 wickets
Australia receive the mother of all frights as Bangladesh score 427 and then dismiss Ponting's men for 269. Australia fight back to bowl their hosts out for 148, and just manage to overhaul the winning target of 307, following an unbeaten century from Ponting.
Won v Bangladesh, Chittagong, April 2006. Innings and 80 runs
This time the boot's on the other foot as Australia responds to Bangladesh's 197 with 581 for four, courtesy of a double-century from nightwatchman Jason Gillespie, and 182 from Hussey. Bangladesh cannot recover from such a deficit and, although mustering 304, are comfortably beaten.
