New Zealand in Australia 1993-94 Three Tests. Australia Won 2 - 0.

Balls per Over: 6 Playing Hours: 5 days x 6 hr (90 ov. minimum) Captains: AR Border (Aus), MD Crowe (NZ) KR Rutherford captained New Zealand in the 2nd and 3rd Tests

Looking at the scorelines of this series, it is hard to believe that New Zealand actually arrived in possession of the Trans Tasman Trophy, and had played well in a drawn series in New Zealand only eight months before. But any form wore off quickly, and a couple of injuries thinned the ranks of class players to the point that the second and third Tests brought only embarrassment. Australia’s batsmen had had one of their easiest series in England in 1993, and so it continued; nine Australian batsmen averaged over 50, as did every one of New Zealand’s -taking bowlers. Overall, Australia averaged 81.4 runs per wicket, an all-time record for a three-Test series. It is also the only occasion where Australia's average was more than three times their opponents'; only once, England v India in 1974, has a series been more one-sided in this respect.

There were few signs of this on the opening three days in Perth. (4 for 113) had Australia headed for a very average score until Healy took charge with 113 of 181 balls, and then Andrew Jones (143), with assistance from Cairns, set up a New Zealand lead. The ease with which Australia’s top order batted in the second innings probably discouraged a declaration from Border, and it came too late to be effective. With Cairns injured and flying home for knee surgery, the series changed complexion. New Zealand’s margin of defeat in Hobart was their worst ever, in a history rich in heavy losses. They were outplayed in every department and even dropped more catches than they took (they dropped 13 and only only 18 in the series as a whole). For the record, three Australians made fairly soft centuries, and Warne (9 for 67 for the match) had far too many tricks up his ample sleeve. In Brisbane, crowds were again poor, even though was playing his 150th Test, the last on his adopted home ground. He recorded his 27th and last Test and his 150th catch. Warne hammered his highest first class score to date, 74 , in a seventh-wicket of 142 with , and then tormented the Kiwis once again to bag eight for the match. While only two batsmen reached centuries, in a score over 600, there were a record-equalling five "centuries" among the New Zealand bowlers. Some resistance from Ken Rutherford saved New Zealand from as severe a margin as Hobart, but the reputation of the once-feared team was in tatters.

This series saw the introduction of third umpires for decisions – perhaps the softest job in sports – and Ian Healy in Brisbane was the first player in Australia given out through reference to video.

Charles Davis 2001