One more thing on this subject. The West Indies' 11 Test winning streak in the 1980's is made extra noteworthy due to the problem of slow over-rates at the time (largely their own doing considering they employed four fast bowlers coming off long runs), and the fact play would stop at 6pm sharp regardless of how many overs had been bowled for the day, or if the match had been affected by rain etc. Draws were far more common then and a series clean sweep of victories extremely rare.
During Australia's reign it was rare we didn't see the full 90 overs bowled in the day, lost time was made up either on the end of the days play or the start of the next, leaving teams little choice but to play for the victory. Draws became almost a thing of the past and results became common place, even at previously notorious "draw" venues like Adelaide.
All of the above plus look at which countries the Windies played their tests in during their 1982-84 27 tests without a loss compared to the 2 x 16 wins for Oz when they went 18 tests without a loss in 1999-2001 period and 22 in the 2005-2008 period. India and Pakistan have always produced road wickets, but were even more so made roads to blunt the Windies, and the tracks in the Windies have always been roads, with many or the test team, partnership and individual batting records being recorded in the Windies eg 7 of the 26 triple centuries made in test cricket have been made in the Windies from 221 tests whereas the 7 in England have come in 471 tests. ( 3 have been made in Oz, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, 2 in India and 1 in NZ).
Most tests undefeated lists at
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284038.html
1982-84 Windies 27 undefeated tests - with 11 straight wins at end of run
2in Oz + 5 in WI v India ( 2W 3D) + 6 in India (2W 4D) + 5 in WI v Oz (2D then 3 Wins) + 5 in Eng (5W) + 4 in Oz (3 Win then Draw) - the Sydney Bunsen burner finally got them and Bob Holland and Murray Bennett.
2005-06 Oz 22 undeated tests
1 Eng (Draw) + 7 Oz ( inc World XI + 3 WI + 3 SAF 1st test was a Draw) + 3 in SAF (3 wins)+ 2 in Bang 2(wins) + 9 in Oz ( 5 v poms + 2 v Sri + 2 v India - all wins)
1999-2001 18 undefeated tests
2 draws in Sri + 1 win in Zimbo + 6 wins in Oz ( 3 India + 3 pak) + 3 win in NZ + 5 wins in Oz v WI + 1 win in India
The 1980's and early 90's was a great decade and a bit of of test cricket because even thought the Windies dominated and we a big gap between them and #2, there wasn't much between #2 and #7 nation and even Sri Lanka were competitive at times.
The great allrounders Botham, Dev, Kahn and Hadlee all played and were backed up by one or two very good batsman Gooch and Gower, Gavaskar and Vengsarkar, Javed and Malik, Crowe and Jones as well as good support from one or two bowlers.
Australia had 4 shit years between January 1984 when Chappell, Lillee and Marsh retired and then we played the Windies in 10 consecutive tests, great planning by the administrators and the rebel tour to South Africa stole 20 players form shield cricket depth, until 1988. The bicentennial test was the end of Oz being shit. The 1988-89 series against the Windies even though a 3-1-1 loss, was the start of Australia hardening the **** up.
The 80's was summed up by the Windies winning everywhere in the world or squeaking out drawn series on the subcontinent thanks usually to Malcolm Marshall, other teams winning at home rarely winning away from home and lots of drawn series on the sub continent.