The final chapter on the look of Australia’s dominance.
Two test series against South Africa would be drawn, and would signal the end of an era as Allan Border retired from international cricket.
He had been the key figure in ensuring Australia was ready to rule the cricketing world. He would retire with but the one regret—failure to defeat the West Indies in a test series.
Australia at this stage had a settled and powerful lineup, and travelled to Pakistan. Pakistan would win the series 1-0, but controversy would come with the tour, with Shane Warne, Tim May, and Mark Waugh accusing Salim Malik of bribing them to underperform.
Both Warne and Malik would be named men of the series.
This was the beginning of the greatest era in Australian cricketing history. With the exception of India, Australia would lose only one test series for the next decade.
Another Ashes series would be won with almost preposterous ease, especially considering the batting lineup of the English, anchored by Graham Thorpe. The series would be won 3-1 by Australia.
Mark Taylor then took his men to West Indies, the stronghold of world cricket. The West Indians had not lost a series in 15 years, and despite retirements, still wielded the last great fast bowling pair in Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.
The first three tests saw the series poised at 1-1 before an epic fourth test. A brilliant double century by Steve Waugh would effectively bat the West Indies out of the match, and Australia would wallop the home team by an innings and 53 runs.
This would see Australia take the Frank Worrell trophy and unofficially take the mantle as the unquestioned number one team in the world.
They have not lost to the West Indians in a series since.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be defeated in Australia by the new kings of the world, and in the latter series the youngest Tasmanian by the name of Ricky Ponting.
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