TEAM HISTORY - ICC CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY 2008

1998 - Bangladesh
The 1998 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is one event the Australians will not be able to forget in a long time. They faced India in their first (and only) match of the tournament and fell short by 44 runs while chasing a target of 308 runs. A half-century by Mark Waugh and a three-wicket claim by Michael Kasprowicz did nothing to save the day for the Australians.

2000 - Kenya
History repeats itself and how Australia, after crashing out of the previous tournament by losing to India, were made to face the same music when in their first (and again only) match of the tournament, they were thrashed by 20 runs. Ricky Ponting (46) and Michael Bevan (42) were the only major contributors in the team's total of 245.

2002 - Sri Lanka
With a 164-run victory against New Zealand followed by a nine-wicket win against Bangladesh in the pool matches, Australia changed their ill luck of crashing out early in the Champions Trophy and earned a place in the semi-finals. However, Sri Lanka were swayed by the electrifying atmosphere created by their fans at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo and crushed Australia by seven wickets. Their spinners limited the Australians to just 162. Backed up with some sharp ground fielding, they overwhelmed Australia's top order to ensure a place in the final with India.

2004 - England
The first semi-final was played between the hosts England and the World Champions Australia. Michael Vaughan's side romped to a six-wicket victory against Australia and booked a place in the finals. The skipper (86), along with Marcus Trescothick (81) and Andrew Strauss (52), sealed the fate of Australia as they compiled 262 runs in response to Australia's 259. With this win, they broke Australia's 14-match winning streak, dating back to January 1999. Earlier, the Australians, in a low scoring match, defeated USA by nine wickets and thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets to emerge at the top of the pool table.

2006 - India
After a dry spell in the previous four events, Australia proved to the world why they are rightly known as the best team on the planet, winning the Champions Trophy for the first time. They were the only team to suffer just one loss in the tournament, as all other teams lost at least two matches. The West Indies, their final opponents, beat Australia in the group stage but were bowled out for 138 in the final and lost by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The semi-finals saw Australia winning against New Zealand by 34 runs. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds posted half-centuries to contribute to the team's total of 240 runs. Brilliant half-centuries by Ponting, Damien Martyn and Shane Watson saw them celebrating against the Indians by six wickets. They also posted a six-wicket win against England in the pool stage.