Test cricket's top 10 dead rubber victories

#9 Australia beat England by an innings and 46 runs - The Oval, 2015

Australia came into the Ashes 2015 as favourites to win against an English side still trying to find their feet. As it turned out, they were swept of theirs as mediocre batting performances on swinging pitches cost the visitors dearly.

It turned out to be skipper Michael Clarke's final Test match, as he announced his retirement after the series loss. So the Aussies had much to play for. Batting first in much favourable conditions, Steven Smith stamped his authority once again on England's bowlers with his 143. With half-centuries from David Warner and Adam Voges, the visitors put up 481 runs on the board in the first innings.

Smith, the captain in waiting, was in the action again as he denied England captain Alastair Cook an elusive Ashes hundred in the second innings, dismissing him for 85 with his leg spin bowling. That man, Peter Siddle again took it on him to bowl his side to a consolation win with a 4-wicket haul. This made many question Siddle's exclusion from the previous games.

England may have won the series 3-2, but Australia gave not only Clarke but also opener Chris Rogers, a happy farewell from the game of cricket.