Mapoui and DownUnda recently alluded to New Zealand's poor Test record away from home which caused me to do some digging around. What I found was eye-opening.
Since January 1, 2010, no team has won 10 Test matches away from home. England and South Africa lead the way with 9 Test wins each. Australia and Pakistan have 8.
South Africa are the only team with a winning away record (9 wins, 1 loss, 7 draws). They are the outlier. They are far superior to all other Test teams when playing outside home comforts. Every other team has a losing record.
The mighty Australia have actually lost more matches away from home over this period than West Indies. Australia have won 33% of their 24 away Test matches. Conversely, West Indies have won 39% of their 23 Test matches at home.
The numbers over the last 2 years reveal similar patterns. No team has won more than 2 Test matches away. Australia have won 25% of their games with a record of 2 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws. Over this same period, West Indies have won 50% of their home matches with 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw.
Australia's batting average at home since 2010 is 40.65 and dips down to 32.80 away. West Indies home batting average is 30.21.
The take away from all of this is that winning Test matches - let alone series - away from home is incredibly tough. Odds dictate that West Indies should not be counted out against Australia. It is also worth keeping in mind that they just held England - a team with the second best away record since 2010 - to a series draw.