In the summer of 1975-76, Clive Lloyd took a West Indian side brimming with hope to Australia for a six-test series. Lloyd laboured under the misapprehension that the series would be close - he was quoted as saying "the outcome could hang on a slender thread" - but ended up being badly wrong.

Despite the Windies being world champions (they had just won the inaugural World Cup), they found themselves in cricket's equivalent of a slasher movie, losing the series 5-1, Gary Gilmour, Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee sharing 76 wickets between them for the Aussies.

The West Indies lost the first test at the Gabba but re-grouped for the second in Perth, bowling out Australia for 329 before scoring 585 in their first innings. Roy Fredericks scored 169 (in 145 balls, hitting 27 fours) and his skipper a more circumspect 149, to give the West Indies a first-innings lead of 256; Andy Roberts, with seven wickets, then bowled Australia out.

This was as good as it got for Lloyd's champions. They lost four tests on the reel as their tour unravelled in blame, counter-accusation and a longing for home.

It became so bad that Michael Holding had to be escorted by Lloyd from the boundary close to the infamous Sydney Hill because he couldn't cope with the barracking. His tears told the story of a miserable tour - his 10 wickets in five tests coming at a cost of 61.40.

Many sides have experienced similar trials in Australia. Only months ago, India arrived like Lloyd's men once did - as world champions. They are now retreating in disarray, having not only lost the test series but also their captain for the final test at Adelaide. Most of all, they have lost their self-respect, if only temporarily. Their batting hasn't been sufficiently pig-headed (their longest innings until the final test was Rahul Dravid's 68 in 246 minutes at Melbourne) and their bowlers have struggled. They have lost so much ground to Australia that it has been impossible to turn their campaign around.

The man partly responsible for Australia's splendid summer is Mickey Arthur, the former Proteas coach. His first series in charge was against New Zealand and after winning in Brisbane, the Australians lost narrowly in Hobart. He and Michael Clarke sat down after the Hobart reverse and talked long and hard. "We looked at how we trained and changed it up a bit," he told me. "We also decided on a brand and the personnel we wanted to move forward."

Arthur accepts that the pitches used in the series have been prepared under instruction - and have favoured the home side. "The pitches this summer have been quick and bouncy - we wanted those wickets and the groundsmen delivered. The Indian top order have looked a little shell-shocked but having said that, Tendulkar has looked superb!"

Arthur admitted it was vital the Indians were dragged out of their "comfort zone" and pitch preparation was a key ingredient in giving the home side an advantage. His bowlers have exploited the zip provided by hard, fast tracks wonderfully well. Ben Hilfenhaus, jettisoned after the last Ashes series, has bowled well and Peter Siddle, so good in South Africa, has ploughed in over after uncomplaining over. Remember, too, that the Australians are without key players. There's no Shane Watson; no Pat Cummins. Their bench strength has been excellent.

Their rejuvenation has been all the more significant for the fact that when they left Johannesburg after the second test in November, a night of the long knives was predicted. Brad Haddin was expected to be a casualty of regime change, and Ricky Ponting was thought to be living on borrowed time. Arthur resisted the temptation to tamper.

As a result, a clean sweep looms.