Five times when the Aussies were humiliated in an ODI series

Australia's cricketing history is a rich one. Over the years they have dominated the opposition with absolute authority, be it at home or in away conditions. When we go through their record in ODI series, we find that they have convincingly won majority of them. More often than not, they have plundered the opposition into submission and that's how they have been five time world champions.

Of the 88 ODI series played by them in the 1994-2012 span, they won 60 of them. If they were mighty at home, they were equally potent in away conditions. They won series against each and every major cricket playing nation in the world.

But, nothing in this world is perfect. History shows that in between these wins, there were instances when they were also thrashed by the opposition. Recently, they lost the ODI series against England by a humiliating 5-0 margin. Let us have a look at some of the instances from the history when they were defeated in such a manner by the opposition team.

Criteria: A minimum of 3 match ODI series is taken into consideration.

#5 Australia in West Indies ODI series, 1994-95

Loss margin: 4-1

Australia toured West Indies for a 5 match ODI series in March, 1995. Although, the first ODI was a closely fought one where the hosts managed to win by six runs. Australia made a comeback in the second match winning by 26 runs, which was to be their solitary win in the series.

From there, they were completely outplayed in the tournament with the hosts winning the remaining matches by 133 runs, 7 wickets and 5 wickets respectively. Their batsmen and bowlers failed to perform in unison, which ultimately contributed to their loss.

They were usually found short of strategy against the batting duo of Carl Hooper and Brian Lara. This was the first time they had lost a bilateral series by such a huge margin.

#4. South Africa in Australia ODI series, 2008-09

Loss margin: 4-1

The start to the five-match ODI series was a fantastic one as the visitors managed to complete a tense chase of 271 runs with the help of timely contribution of 40 runs in 18 balls from Albie Morkel. The hosts made a comeback by winning the equally tense low scoring second ODI match by 5 runs.

From there, everything went downhill for the Australian team, as they lost the remaining matches by 3 wickets, 8 wickets, and 39 runs respectively. Though the hosts managed to put up a fight in every match of the series, it was just that they were not able to win the matches.

#3. Australia in New Zealand, 2006-07

Loss margin: 3-0

In the build-up to this series, the Australians were defeated comprehensively by England in their own backyard in the best of two finals of the Commonwealth tri-nation series. Going into this series, Australia were without their regular captain Ricky Pointing.

For all his reputation as one of the finest cricketers at that point of time, Mike Hussey was handed over the captaincy duties for the series. The tour started in worst fashion for the visitors, as the hosts thrashed them by 10 wickets in the first ODI. Australia batted well in the second ODI and posted a mammoth total of 336/4, but yet again they lost the match by 5 wickets, thereby losing the series.

Hoping to salvage some pride in the final ODI, they set a target of 341 runs for the hosts, but here also their hopes were crushed by the duo of Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum. It was the first time when Australia lost an ODI series in New Zealand.

#2 Australia in South Africa ODI series, 2016-17

Loss margin: 5-0

After winning the 2014-15 cricket world cup, Australia had lost only one of their last seven ODI series. They hit the shores of South Africa with a dream to add one more series win to their tally.

The series started with the visitors losing the first ODI by 6 wickets. The hosts sent the Aussie bowlers on a leather hunt in the second ODI, amassing a huge total of 361/6, winning the match by 142 runs.

The batters put up a strong show in the third ODI, setting a target of 372 runs for the hosts in the third ODI. But here also, David Miller single-handedly took the match away from them. Australia could not recover from this loss and lost the remaining two matches by 6 wickets and 31 runs respectively.

This was the first time in their history of ODI cricket when they lost a 5 match ODI series 5-0.

#1 Australia in England ODI series, 2018

Loss Margin: 5-0

After the batting mainstays, David Warner and Steve Smith were banned from international cricket for a period of one year, Australia went to England for a 5 match ODI series. Their bowling resources looked depleted due to the absence of spearhead Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, same was the case with their batting department.

The first ODI was an evenly fought contest with the hosts managing to win by 3 wickets. The visitors again lost the second ODI by 38 runs. The hosts were on a record-breaking spree in the third ODI, amassing a world record total of 481/6. Australia barely managed to compete, losing the contest by a huge margin of 242 runs.

This was their worst loss in terms of runs in the ODIs. After putting on a good batting display, the visitors yet again failed to win the fourth ODI and situation was no different in the last ODI where they lost the match from a winning position.

This was the second time in their cricketing history when they lost an ODI series 5-0.

England v Australia - 5th Royal London ODI