India’s 2-1 series win over Australia earlier this month was an astonishing achievement – to triumph against the Aussies on their home patch is always a tough ask.

In the 21st century, India (twice), South Africa (three times) and England (once) have been the only visiting sides to win a Test series Down Under.

We’ve put together an XI of visiting players who have found success in the country this century, with the key qualification being that they’ve played in at least two series away to the Australians.

Alastair Cook – England

20 Tests, 1,664 runs @ 48.94, 5 100s

No visiting batsman has hit more Test runs in Australia this century. Despite never hitting an Ashes century at home, Cook thrived Down Under, particularly in 2010/11: in five Tests he totalled 766 runs at an average of 127.66 to help England to a 3-1 series win.

Graeme Smith (c) – South Africa/ICC World XI

10 Tests, 748 runs @ 39.36, 2 100s

Smith’s overall record in Australia is hurt by poor returns in 2005/06 with South Africa and the ICC World XI, but he did then go on to captain the Proteas to two famous series wins in the country. He was particularly brilliant in 2008/09, his 326 runs in a 2-1 win earning him the Player of the Series award.

Cheteshwar Pujara – India

11 Tests, 993 runs @ 47.28, 3 100s

In 2018/19, Pujara was at the heart of India’s successful 2-1 win, hitting three hundreds as his side became the first from Asia to win a Test series in Australia. In 2020/21, he averaged just 33.87, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story: in occupying the crease for 928 balls and taking numerous blows to the body, Pujara’s bravery was a key storyline in a fairytale series win.

Virat Kohli – India

13 Tests, 1,352 runs @ 54.08, 6 100s

No visiting batsman has as many Test hundreds in Australia this century. Kohli’s maiden Test century was a rare bright spot for India in a 4-0 series defeat in 2011/12, and three years later their star batsman reeled off four hundreds in four matches. As a captain, he was at the helm for their series win in 2018/19.

Sachin Tendulkar – India

13 Tests, 1,212 runs @ 55.09, 3 100s

The Little Master had hit just 82 runs in five innings coming into the final match of India’s 2003/04 series against Australia at Sydney. There he finally burst into life, racking up 301 runs in the match without being dismissed. He carried that form into the 2007/08 series against Australia, hitting 493 runs in four matches to finish with a series average of 70.42.

Jacques Kallis – South Africa/ICC World XI

12 Tests, 1,047 runs @ 52.35, 2 100s | 19 wickets @ 41.10

South Africa’s great all-rounder rarely let his side down in Australia – even when he averaged 37.40 with the bat in 2008/09, a pair of half-centuries proved crucial as the Proteas chased down 414 in a six-wicket win at Perth. In 2012/13, a century at the Gabba was foisllowed by match-saving knocks of 58 and 46 at Adelaide while batting with a hamstring injury.

Rishabh Pant (wk) – India

7 Tests, 624 runs @ 62.40, 1 100 | 28 dismissals

India’s buccaneering wicketkeeper followed up a century in 2018/19 with two fourth-innings classics in 2020/21. While his 97 at the SCG wasn’t enough to bring about victory, a Test later Pant was at the crease to hit the winning runs at the Gabba, his 138-ball 89* ending Australia’s 32-year long unbeaten run at the ground.

Anil Kumble – India

8 Tests, 44 wickets @ 34.65, 4 5-fors

Only James Anderson has taken more Test wickets as a visiting bowler in Australia this century. While expensive – an economy rate of 3.62 in Australia is nearly a whole run more than his career rate – Kumble’s wicket-taking prowess remained: he was the leading wicket-taker across both sides in 2003/04 and India’s most prolific bowler when the two sides met in 2007/08.

Dale Steyn – South Africa

7 Tests, 31 wickets @ 28.77, 2 5-fors

A pivotal force in two series wins Down Under, Steyn’s greatest performance in Australia came at the MCG in 2008: a crucial knock of 76 was sandwiched between two five-wicket hauls as South Africa cruised to a nine-wicket win.

Mohammed Shami – India

8 Tests, 31 wickets @ 32.16, 2 5-fors

Of visiting bowlers with as many Test wickets in Australia this century as Shami, only Jasprit Bumrah and Steyn average less. While injury curtailed his involvement in India’s most series win over Australia, Shami was a key part of the winning side in 2018/19, his 16 wickets arriving at an average of 26.18 and including an innings haul of 6-56 at Perth.

Jasprit Bumrah – India

7 Tests, 32 wickets @ 21.25, 1 5-for

Bumrah’s record in Australia is astonishing. Among visiting bowlers with at least 10 wickets in the country this century, only Kyle Abbott (14.84) averages less than Bumrah (21.25). Yet Bumrah has 19 wickets more than Abbott. In fact, only James Anderson, Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin and Stuart Broad have taken more wickets in Australia as visiting bowlers this century – all four have taken those scalps at an average greater than 34.