Remember when: Five Aussie batting classics

5. Phillip Hughes 115 v SA, 2nd Test, Durban, March 2009

The context: One-nil up in a three-Test series against South Africa, Ricky Ponting's new-look Australian side needed to capitalise on the momentum they'd gained from that surprise opening result to continue their overseas domination of South Africa; since the Proteas' readmission, they had yet to win a series against the Australians on home soil. Boom opening bat Phillip Hughes had made 0 and 75 on debut in the previous Test, and his gung-ho approach represented the way forward for a team intent on taking the game to their opposition at every opportunity.

The innings: Australia surged to 0-119 at the lunch break on the back of Hughes's punishing 76 not out, and if there was any suggestion the first Test win had been an anomaly, the left-hander had quashed it in the space of two hours as the tourists maintained their ascendancy. On 93, the 20-year-old Hughes crunched consecutive sixes to bring up a maiden Test hundred in spectacular fashion. He was gone a short while later for a rapid 115, but his impact had been immense; here was a statement by a precocious young talent that Australia's next generation planned on being every bit as competitive as the legendary group that preceded them.

The outcome: The importance of the opening pair's contribution (Simon Katich made 108) was realised long after Hughes's dismissal for 115, when Australia lost their final six wickets for 23. They went on to win the match, and with it the series – this time very much against the odds. They again had Hughes to thank in the second innings, as the kid from country New South Wales became the youngest ever to score twin hundreds in a Test, courtesy of a superb 160 that pushed his team into an unbeatable position.

4. Ricky Ponting 257 v India, third Test, Melbourne, December 2003

The context: For one of the few times in their recent Test history, Australia faced a 1-0 deficit on home soil after India had tasted a rare victory Down Under, in the second Test in Adelaide. Ricky Ponting's double century in that match had counted for nothing in the wash-up, and with Virender Sehwag blasting a spectacular 195 on the opening day of the third Test, India were suddenly primed to take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead. A collapse saw them bowled out for 366 on day two, and this time Ponting wouldn't be denied.

The innings: The highest score of Ponting's prolific career came at a critical juncture for the Australian side. Minus Warne and McGrath, they carried less of their usual swagger, but Ponting was at the peak of a purple patch that would endure for much of the next four years. He combined with Matthew Hayden (136) for a partnership that turned the match, before going on to occupy the crease for 10 minutes short of 10 hours. When he was out, Australia led by almost 200 and the match had been turned on its head.

The outcome: India were bundled out for 286 in their second innings and Australia chased the required 95 with nine wickets in hand. Ponting and Hayden finished the job they started and with the fourth Test drawn, the honours for the series finished even. Ponting's masterpiece had avoided a first Test series win for India in Australia – a task they are still to complete.

3. Michael Clarke 161 not out v South Africa, Cape Town, March 2014

The context: With the No.1 Test ranking up for grabs and the series level at 1-1, this was as close as Test cricket gets to a world championship bout. Australia won the first Test, and lost the second amid questions surrounding captain Michael Clarke's form. The skipper laughed off the critics, and promptly showed them exactly why he found the line of inquiry comical.

The innings: Clarke won the toss and chose to bat, safe in the knowledge that a massive first-innings total would put Australia in command of the match. Clearly out of sorts despite his own protestations, Clarke weather a sustained spell of brutal fast bowling from Morne Morkel, in which he was struck repeatedly around the ribs, arms, shoulders and back.

Scans later revealed a fractured shoulder and a heavily bruised forearm, but Clarke kept at it, getting through the most difficult period and ultimately thriving. Like Steve Waugh in the Caribbean almost two decades earlier, it was a century made under extremely challenging conditions, a defining knock for the veteran of more than 100 Tests, and an innings that set up Australia's return to the world No.1 ranking.

The outcome: Clarke's 161 was an instant classic as Australia went on to win the match by 245 runs and return to the top of Test cricket. It completed a golden summer and was the highest point the national side had reached since their historic 2006-07 Ashes.

2. Adam Gilchrist 149 not out v Pakistan, second Test, Hobart, November 1999

The context: Australia led this series 1-0 and would go on to clean sweep it, but the importance of this effort was underlined later by Steve Waugh and his willing disciples Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist. The trio maintained this was the victory that convinced them they were capable of winning any match, from any situation. At 5-126 chasing 369 to win on a wearing fifth-day track against an attack containing Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq, it's not difficult to see why.

The innings: Gilchrist proved repeatedly throughout his stunning career that he was a man for all seasons, but this was the first time Australians realised just what a special product they had at No.7. Playing just his second Test, the keeper-batsman – who quickly won over supporters who had bemoaned the sacking of Ian Healy – batted in his customary aggressive fashion, but proved to any doubters he was much more than simply a limited-overs slogger. In fact, he was nothing of the sort, and in no time he hurried Australia to a remarkable run chase, blazing 149 not out from 163 deliveries alongside his WA teammate Justin Langer (127).

The outcome: Gilchrist's special innings was described by Richie Benaud as one of the finest he had seen, and the left-hander went on to play a key role in Australia's world record run of 16 straight Test wins (this was number three), in the process turning Waugh's XI into one of the greatest of all time.

1. Steve Waugh 200 v West Indies, fourth Test, Kingston, April-May 1995

Image Id: 00BA1D35CBC0430897BC2882FF40EE7E Image Caption: Steve and Mark Waugh toast sweet success after their iconic partnership in Jamaica // Getty

The context: Australia hadn't prevailed in a Test series over West Indies for 20 years when Mark Taylor took a strong squad to the Caribbean with an eye on usurping the Caribbean powerhouse as the world's best. Heading into the final Test at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, the series was locked at one-all. It all came down to this.

The innings: West Indies posted 265 thanks largely to a Richie Richardson century, and the hosts had Australia in early strife at 3-73 in reply when Steve Waugh entered the fray. Waugh had emerged as Australia's man for a crisis while his status as world cricket's most uncompromising batsman had been forged in fire only weeks earlier when he stared down Curtly Ambrose during a heated confrontation in Trinidad. Combining with brother Mark across the next four hours and 231 runs, Steve took on the Windies quicks once again and emerged triumphant. The twins' aggressive batting threw the West Indians off their line, as they crunched 67 from the first 11 overs after lunch on day two. Mark fell for 126 late that same day, but Steve kicked on from his 110 overnight to post a maiden double century the following day. Eventually, he was last man out after running four to reach 200. His 555-minute, 425-ball epic had taken Australia to a total of 531 and a lead of 266.

The outcome: Richardson's team never recovered from Waugh's career-defining knock; they made 213 second time around to lose by an innings. Wisden called the brothers' stand "a partnership to be cherished in Australian history, the pinnacle of the cricketing lives of Steve and Mark Waugh".