Australia eye landmark success in trilogy of Test tours

Australia are five days away from one of their best overseas series wins in more than a decade, with a perfect start to a big year on the road beckoning.

Victory over South Africa in the second Test, starting on Sunday, would make them the first touring side to win there in almost seven years, with a match still to play.

It would also rank as one of Australia’s best in the past 12 years, with the 1-0 win in Pakistan across three Tests in 2022 currently topping that list.

Pakistan were a far better team then than they are now, pushing Australia for 15 days in that series before the visitors’ final-session victory in the third Test in Lahore.

Winning on the road is not easy in Test cricket, and is often viewed as a yardstick of greatness.

Over the past decade, touring teams have won only 28 per cent of away Test series.

Australia have claimed four of 11 in that time, with victories in Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Wests Indies over the past five years.

They have also twice retained the Ashes in England, with those tours marked as a success by returning the urn even while not winning the series outright.

But victory in South Africa would be notable, given the Proteas are ranked No.2 in the world and beat Pat Cummins’ side in the Test Championship final last year.

“I think winning away measures teams, but you’ve got to win as well in your own backyard,” Australia quick Josh Hazlewood said.

“South African conditions can be similar to Australia. That’s probably why they’ve had so much success in Australia as well.

“We seem to adapt pretty quickly to what’s over here, and it’s been no different this time around.”

Australia have made no secret of what the next 10 months mean, with Test tours of India and England ahead where they have not won since 2004 and 2001 respectively.

Regaining the World Test Championship in next June’s final at The Oval also remains on the menu, with Australia first and ahead of their next opponents New Zealand and current adversaries South Africa in second and third.