WATCH: The top 10 hits of the summer

Fans were treated to another action-packed international season of cricket over the summer, with New Zealand, the West Indies and India all arriving on our shores to take on the Australians.

It was a season that included 14 international matches across all formats, an amazing total of 10,904 runs, 248 wickets, 31 centuries – and a whole lot of highlights.

So sit back and re-live the highs, the lows and the major talking points with our most-watched videos of the 2015-16 international summer of cricket.

Mic check

Australians and Indians celebrated Australia Day and Republic Day respectively with our shared national pastime, a thrilling encounter at the Adelaide Oval which the tourists won by 37 runs. The major talking point on a night full of highlights was the dismissal of Australia's Steve Smith, coming as he'd been talking fans through his tactics out in the middle via the Wide World of Sports' commentary. 

The dismissal sparked criticism on social media, but Smith and teammate David Warner said they had no problems with being mic'd up during future matches. "It is upon us to be responsible and professional and understand that when you are out there," Warner said at the time. 

"It is about entertainment, we have seen it in the Big Bash, we have done it plenty of times with Channel Nine. It gives a great insight for people at home to understand how we are dealing with situations when we are out there. I have been doing it all the time and I feel no added pressure."

Maxi's menacing form at the MCG

One of the most divisive cricketers in the world, Glenn Maxwell gave the doubters something to think about with an entertaining match-winning knock against India at the MCG. In probably his most important international innings, the Victorian helped rebuild the innings before lifting the tempo in the final overs when the required run rate ballooned beyond seven runs an over. 

Despite showing the grit and calmness under pressure that the critics say he lacks, Maxwell also produced a reverse sweep for four early in his innings, an outrageous slap down the ground for six, some incredible shots in the final over and then, unfortunately for him, his wicket as he chased the winning runs and a century in one final big shot.

New skipper pulls up star quick

As Australia cruised towards victory over New Zealand on the final day of the first Test in Brisbane, an errant throw from Mitchell Starc – no doubt borne out of the frustration of seeing NZ tailender Mark Craig hitting him for consecutive boundaries – earned a public rebuke from his captain Steve Smith and a fine from the International Cricket Council. 

"Yeah I thought it was pretty disappointing," Smith said after play. "He's done it a few times and I'm going to have a word with him when we get back down in the sheds. I don't think it was necessary at the time and hopefully he can improve and get better from that." In his first Test as full-time skipper, the incident was an impressive show of leadership from Smith as Australia began a new era under his captaincy.

The moment that had NZ fuming

The flashpoint of an historic Test match and probably the entire summer, the non-dismissal of Nathan Lyon on day two of the Adelaide Test would eventually lead to an admission from the ICC that the umpire got it wrong. 

Australia were in deep trouble at 8-118 in reply to NZ's 202 in the landmark day-night Test when the Kiwis appealed for the wicket of Lyon, who was yet to score at the time. Despite Hot Spot showing a clear mark on the bat as the ball travelled to Kane Williamson at second slip, third umpire Nigel Llong found "no conclusive evidence" and determined Lyon should remain not out. 

Lyon would eventually be dismissed for 34, adding a further 72 runs with Peter Nevill (66) that would prove match-turning in Australia's tense three-wicket win in a low-scoring affair.

Starc heats up in the west

On a surface in Perth that batsmen dream of, Australia's Mitchell Starc provided a rare high point for the bowlers with a bat-breaking spell that had the speed gun overheating and Australia's fielders jumping.

After a long day-and-a-half in the field, Starc pushed the speed gun passed the 160km/h mark with one delivery and also found the edge of both centurion Ross Taylor and NZ skipper Brendon McCullum, only for the home side's fielders to put down the hot chances offered.

Unlucky Kiwi falls short

In what would turn out to be his final Test series on international soil, Brendon McCullum had a lack of reviews to blame for being denied a second Test century against his trans-Tasman rivals.

Having blasted his way to 80 in a thrilling performance at the Gabba, the NZ skipper was given out caught off an inside edge even though replays showed the ball to hit only pad on the way through to Steve Smith at second slip.

But with the tourists out of reviews – they were just 10 balls away from their allowance of two referrals per 80 overs being replenished – McCullum had to go.

Is it a bird ...?

The brilliance of this acrobatic effort from Indian rookie Hardik Pandya was highlighted when the tourists secured a thrilling victory from the final ball of the match.

Pandya saved a certain four runs for his team with this spectacular diving save that denied Travis Head a maximum and brought the large Indian contingent in the crowd to their feet.

Warner, Khawaja rule the Gabba

The first day of the international summer saw Usman Khawaja begin an incredible run of form that more than three months later shows no sign of slowing down. After Joe Burns and David Warner put on a crucial opening stand of 161 for the first wicket, Khawaja and Warner combined for another huge partnership that saw both notch centuries and almost put the Test out of NZ's reach then and there. 

Almost five years after he debuted to much fanfare in Sydney, Khawaja finally notched a Test ton for the first time while Warner would go on to add another century in the second innings before an historic double-century in Perth.

Gabriel no angel

There's over-stepping and then there's over-stepping like this. The cry of 'no-ball' from Umpire Ian Gould on the first morning of the opening Test between Australia and the West Indies in Hobart could almost be heard on the mainland, with the Englishman no doubt stunned by the margin of Shannon Gabriel's transgression. The quick's front foot slid significantly upon impact, but this was still one of the biggest no-balls in recent memory.

India's calamitous collapse

The collapse of the summer saw India lose their final nine wickets for just 46 runs to somehow hand Australia victory in the fourth ODI in Canberra.

The tourists were cruising to their victory target of 348 thanks to centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli before John Hastings and then Kane Richardson ripped through the middle and lower order to secure a 25-run win and a 4-0 series lead for the hosts.