Mark Taylor replaced Allan Border as Australian captain for the 67th Series between the two nations. Australia batted first at Brisbane in the opening Test, and Slater and Mark Waugh went to town on some loose English bowling. Slater scored 176, which included an opening stand of 99 with Captain Taylor (before Taylor was run out), and 182 runs for the third wicket with Mark Waugh (140). Waugh reached his 50th first-class century on the second day and as the innings closed the pair had helped Australia into a commanding position. This position solidified even more at the end of the second day, England were struggling at 6 for 133.

Craig McDermott had received a lot of criticism before the match saying that his best days were over, but he answered them in the only way he knew how by bowling fast and straight, ending with figures of 6 for 53. England only added another 34 runs on the third morning and were expecting to have to go straight out to bat again after failing to avoid the follow on. However Taylor for some reason decided to bat, but things didn't go quite as planned. Australia after a century opening partnership lost 8 wickets for 92 runs. Phil Tufnell took 4 wickets in the innings turning the ball sharply. This fuelled the crowd's anticipation that Warne could turn the ball even more on an increasingly turning wicket. Chasing 508 runs to win, Warne set about the opposition with tremendous enthusiasm, and took 8 wickets for 71, England lost the match by 184 runs. Warne's wickets included a run of 3 wickets in 4 balls, a period that effectively ruled out England's chances of saving the match. Warne was named man of the match for his bowling.

England were indeed unfortunate at Melbourne, first of all by four dubious umpiring decisions, and then Stewart broke his index finger off McDermott's bowling. Australia struggled to 279 all out in the first innings after England asked them to bat, the Waugh twins saving them from embarrassment with two half centuries. In reply England lost three quick wickets after reaching 119 for the loss of 1 wicket. Thorpe did his best to keep England in the game but when he fell to a bat pad decision, their innings crumbled loosing the last 6 wickets for 64 runs.

England didn't seem to have an answer to Warne's superior leg spin bowling as the blonde larakin took 6 wickets. In Australia's second innings,

Boon scored his 20th Test century, 7 against England, and led his team to a position of strength. They declared at teatime on the 4th day, leaving England to score 388 runs in 4 sessions. By the close of play, England were again in trouble at 4 for 79, Fleming taking two wickets in quick succession. The Victorian weather wasn't o help England on the final day, infact it wasn't given a chance for the last 6 wickets fell for only 13 runs. McDermott took 5 wickets in England's total of 92, but the main talking point was Warne's hat-trick (DeFreitas, Gough and Malcolm) - the first Ashes hat-trick since Trumble in 1903 (strangely also at Melbourne). Australia won the match by a hefty 295 runs and raised the criticism that England weren't good enough to send a Test side to Australia. [Boon takes the all important Malcolm catch - Boon is to the far left of the picture]

Things were not looking goof for England early on the first morning at Sydney, loosing 3 wickets for only 20 runs. Crawley then joined Atherton and the Lancastrian pair added 174 in 5 hours to take the score into the realms of respectability. McDermott for the second innings in succession took 5 wicket as England returned to the pavilion 309 all out. Arguably the innings of the match came from Darren Gough with 51. He tore the bowlers apart and treated them with complete disdain, showing the upper order how to bat. After the innings, Harold Larwood rang the England dressing room to congratulate the current bowler on his marvellous innings. Rain then took away the 2nd day's play and when Australia went in early next morning, the English bowlers ripped through the top and middle order, leaving Australia on 8 for 87.

Gough who was still on a high after his batting took 6 wicket in the innings, Australia finally all out for 116. More time was lost to rain and when Atherton declared at 2 for 255, the crowd was shocked at his decision not to allow Hick to score the two more runs he required to score a century. Chasing 449 to win from a possible 128 overs, Taylor and Slater soon set about attacking the English bowlers, scoring 208 when Slater fell. Umpire Darrell Hair then declined to refer a close run out (Taylor) to the third umpire and it seemed to spur the bowling attack on. Australia under renewed pressure slumped to 7 for 292 and seemed destined to loose the match, however Warne and May batted for 18 overs and held out for an exciting draw.

England it seemed were improving with every match after the pitiful display at Melbourne. The injury to three key players didn't help their cause, Hick, Gough and Stewart all going home and taking no further part in the series. This now took the total to 6 players flying home early on the tour through injury, McCague, Udal and White going before the last Test. England batted first and started well, Gatting scored his first Test century for 7 1/2 years in England's first innings total of 353. In reply Australia passed the England score thanks to a century from Greg Blewett on his debut (the 18th Australian to do so).

England set Australia 263 runs to win in 67 overs, thanks to a brisk 88 from Defreitas which had included 22 runs off one over (McDermott bowling), equalling Botham's Ashes record set in 1986 of 22 runs in an over. Australia were soon in trouble in their second innings, Devon Malcolm firing on all cylinders as he took 3 quick wickets, Australia reeling at 4 for 23. England weren't to be denied their first win on Australian soil for 18 years, although when Healy and Fleming held them up for 2 hours for the 9th wicket, they were starting to get anxious! Malcolm wrapped up the last wicket of McIntyre completing an historic win by 106 runs.

Normal service resumed in Perth, Australia winning by 329 runs. Australia batted first and Slater scored another century (124), Steve Waugh was left stranded on 99 not out and his brother Mark scored 88. Steve Waugh's 99 not out was only the second time in Test history that a batsman has been left on that score, Boycott was the last back in 1979. England did themselves no favours during the match as they dropped 9 out of 10 possible catches. Thorpe in reply scored 123 and was supported by Ramprakash (72), England making 295 runs all out.

With a healthy lead, Australia piled on more pressure, Steve Waugh and Blewett putting on a double century partnership. Taylor declared on 8 for 345, leaving England to score 453 to win the match. At 6 for 27, victory was going only one way - Australia's. Craig McDermott finished off a successful series taking 6 for 38 in the final innings of the match. His and Warne's bowling was a big factor during the series, and the consistent batting and fielding approach from the home side served as a reminder to England that they would have to improve radically if they were to challenge for the Ashes anytime soon.