Australian Tri-Series

Australian Tri-Series "Commonwealth Bank Series"
Logo of the Commonwealth Bank Series
Administrator	Australian Cricket Board
Format	One Day International
First tournament	1995–96
Last tournament	2007–08
Tournament format	Triangular round robin followed by a best of three final
Number of teams	Australia  England  West Indies  India  Pakistan  New Zealand  Sri Lanka  South Africa  Zimbabwe
Current champion	India
Most successful	Australia (8)
v · d · e

The Australian Tri-Series refers to the one day international cricket tournament held between 1979-80 and 2007-08 between the home side and two touring teams, in the height of the Australian cricket season, i.e. during the summer months of December, January and February. Between 1979–80 and 1995–96 it was known as the World Series Cup. After 1996-97, it took on various commercial names: the Carlton and United Series (1996-97 to 1999-2000); the Carlton Series (2000-01); the VB Series (2001-02 to 2005-06); and, most recently, the Commonwealth Bank Series (2006-07 to 2007-08).

Throughout its existence, the tournament was held as a series of One Day Internationals, featuring a round-robin played amongst the three teams, followed by a finals series played between the top two. The most common format over the years was that each team played each other four times in the round-robin, and the final was decided by a best-of-three series (with the third match played only if necessary). Variations were:

• Each team played the others five times during the round robin (from 1980-81 to 1985-86, and 1998-99)
• Each team played the others three times during the round robin (2004/05 only)
• The finals series was best of five (1980-81 and 1981-82)
• A quadrangular series featuring two touring sides as well as Australia A; each team played the others twice during the round robin, followed by a best-of-three finals series. This unique format was seen only in 1994-95. Matches played against Australia A are not considered ODIs.

The concept of a three-team international series (known as a tri-series) in cricket originated with the World Series Cricket program sponsored by Kerry Packer, and the first two tri-series between Australia, West Indies and a World XI have never been awarded official One Day International status.

The 2007–08 Commonwealth Bank Series was the last Australian annual tri series. Ending a 29 year old tradition it would be replaced with Australia hosting separate tournaments against any touring sides. For the 2008–09 season, Australia played five-match series against both South Africa and New Zealand (for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy) in January and February 2009 respectively; both series were still known by the commercial Commonwealth Bank Series name. A return to the tri-series format has been earmarked for the 2011-12 season, featuring Australia, India and Sri Lanka.^[1]

Played mostly during a strong era for Australian cricket, Australia won 18 of the twenty-nine tri-series played. Australia failed to reach the finals on only three occasions. The West Indies, who featured in the series frequently during the 1980s, was the next most successful team, winning 6 tournaments. Other international teams to win the tri-series were England (twice), India, Pakistan and South Africa (once each).

Since the 2005–06 season, VB has been a secondary sponsor of Australia's cricket season which ties in with their Boonanza and Warnie promotions featuring retired cricketing greats such as David Boon, Ian Botham and Shane Warne.

AUS vs IND VB Series 2003/04 at the MCG

Tournament results

This list covers the results of the era during the rebranding of the series between Carlton and United, the Carlton Series, the VB Series and the current Commonwealth Bank Series.

Season	Winner	Runner-up	Third place
1996–97[2]	Pakistan	West Indies	Australia
	Most Runs: Brian Lara WI – 424, Most Wickets: Shane Warne AUS – 19
1997–98[3]	Australia	South Africa	New Zealand
	Most Runs: Ricky Ponting AUS – 462, Most Wickets: Allan Donald RSA – 17
1998–99[4]	Australia	England	Sri Lanka
	Most Runs: Mark Waugh AUS – 542, Most Wickets: Glenn McGrath AUS – 27
1999–2000[5]	Australia	Pakistan	India
	Most Runs: Ricky Ponting AUS – 404, Most Wickets: Glenn McGrath AUS – 19
2000–01[6]	Australia	West Indies	Zimbabwe
	Most Runs: Mark Waugh AUS – 542, Most Wickets: Shane Warne AUS – 19
2001–02[7]	South Africa	New Zealand	Australia
	Most Runs: Jonty Rhodes RSA – 345, Most Wickets: Shane Bond NZ – 21
2002–03[8]	Australia	England	Sri Lanka
	Most Runs: Nick Knight ENG – 461, Most Wickets: Brett Lee AUS – 18
2003–04[9]	Australia	India	Zimbabwe
	Most Runs: Adam Gilchrist AUS – 498, Most Wickets: Irfan Pathan IND – 16
2004–05[10]	Australia	Pakistan	West Indies
	Most Runs: Michael Clarke AUS – 411, Most Wickets: Brett Lee AUS – 16
2005–06[11]	Australia	Sri Lanka	South Africa
	Most Runs: Kumar Sangakkara SL – 469, Most Wickets: Nathan Bracken AUS – 17
2006–07[12]	England	Australia	New Zealand
	Most Runs: Ricky Ponting AUS – 445, Most Wickets: Glenn McGrath AUS – 13
2007–08[13]	India	Australia	Sri Lanka
	Most Runs: Gautam Gambhir IND – 440, Most Wickets: Nathan Bracken AUS – 21
2011–12[14]

Notes and references

1. ^ [1] Cricinfo, URL accessed 2 February 2011
2. ^ Carlton and United Series 1996/97 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
3. ^ Carlton and United Series 1997/98 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
4. ^ Carlton and United Series 1998/99 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
5. ^ Carlton and United Series 1999/00 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
6. ^ Carlton Series 2000/01 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
7. ^ VB Series 2001/02 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
8. ^ VB Series 2002/03 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
9. ^ VB Series 2003/04 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
10. ^ VB Series 2004/05 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
11. ^ VB Series 2005/06 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 2 November 2006
12. ^ Commonwealth Bank Series 2006/07 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 11 January 2007
13. ^ Commonwealth Bank Series 2007/08 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 4 March 2008
14. ^ Commonwealth Bank Series 2011/12 from CricInfo, URL accessed 3 July 2011

Australia has never lost against SA in world cup

External links

• Commonwealth Bank Cricket Series 2006-07 in Australia
• Inside Cricket Australia - Commercial Partners
• One-Day International Matches played on Melbourne Cricket Ground
• A history of the VB Series - Cricinfo
• Commonwealth Bank Series Results Summary - SportsAustralia.com