Having lost the last three Ashes series, Australia did not have to wait long to exact revenge on home soil, with the 2013/14 series beginning less than three months after the team had flown home from England.
A portent for what was to come was seen at the first Test match, in Brisbane, where Australia inflicted a heavy defeat on England.
Australia won the toss and batted. They were struggling at 132/6 before Brad Haddin made 94 and Mitchell Johnson 64, helping them reach 295, Stuart Broad taking 6-81. However, England, in turn, were dismissed for just 136, Johnson taking 4-61 and Ryan Harris 3-28.
Australia then consolidated their position by declaring on 401/7, David Warner scoring 124 and his captain Michael Clarke 113.
England were set a notional 561 to win. With the exception of 65 from Alastair Cook, they only offered token resistance, and were all out for 179, Johnson taking 5-42.
Australia had won by 381 runs.
Things got little better for England in the second Test match, in Adelaide. Again, Australia betted having won the toss. Once more, Clarke had a big part to play, making 148, while Haddin scored 118, and Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, George Bailey, and Harris all made half centuries, and Australia were able to declare on 570/9.
Ian Bell then made an unbeaten 72 and Michael Carberry 60, but only one other batter got into double figures as England were bowled out for only 172, Johnson taking 7-40.
Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on but batted again, Warner making an unbeaten 83 before the innings was declared on 132/3.
England were set 531. Although they batted better second time round, that total was always going to be beyond them. Root made 87, Matt Prior 69, and Kevin Pietersen 53, and Australia won by 218 runs.