The summer of cricket is here! The sun is out, temperatures are heading up and all is in readiness for what should be some cracking action over the next couple of months, with it all getting underway on Thursday.
In what is always a jam-packed calendar, four nations will arrive on Australia’s shores in some form or fashion over the next four months, and there is even an away tour thrown in for good measure.
After last summer’s almost boring constant run fest around the country, the hope is for better pitches this time around with many complaining about the nature of the surfaces, and with two Day-Night tests, that is highly likely.
The pink ball will be getting a serious examination, and after it produced by far the best Test of the summer last year against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval, it now expands to the Gabba in Brisbane.
The other effect of that though is that the fortress Brisbane, where Australia haven’t lost since the West Indies toured in 1988, will no longer host the first Test of the summer – rather it will head to the WACA in Perth.
The WACA, along with Blundstone Arena in Hobart and the Adelaide Oval will welcome South Africa for a three-Test series to open the summer.
It promises to be an exciting series to get things underway, with the talk being there is more grass left on the pitch in Perth than what we saw last year.
With both teams having full stocks of quick bowlers – names like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and the explosive Proteas duo of Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn it promises to be a fiery first meeting.
The pace bowlers, even if presented with a road in Perth as they were last time around, will still have at least one guaranteed chance for dominance when they head to Adelaide for the day-night Test under lights.
If last year’s match is any indication they must leave more grass on the wicket to keep the ball in decent shape. With the pace bowlers all having match fitness under their belts by then and a potentially deciding match, it promises to be a cracker in prime time.
Between the first and third Tests, the teams will head to Hobart where it will be important to use the new ball properly or face a long stint in the field.
Following the South Africa series, there is less than a week before New Zealand arrive for the first part of a One Day tournament.
While they are anything but back-to-back, New Zealand will play three ODIs in Australia during early December, and then the return series between the countries across the ditch will be played at the end of January and early February.
It’s the rematch of the World Cup Final, and while it doesn’t feel right slotted in between two Test series, the six matches are important for both sides as preparations continue for the Champions Trophy next year.
With the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson going up against Australia, side selection for both should become clearer ahead of One Day Cricket’s second biggest tournament.
New Zealand’s form is pretty poor really after being thumped by India away from home and they will be keen to right some wrongs.
It will be then back to the longest form of the game as the ever inconsistent Pakistan arrive for a three-Test match series, which includes the two biggest on the Australian calendar – Boxing Day in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
Despite Pakistan being seen as an inconsistent side, they have been a lot better than that in recent times and have rocketed to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
As confusing as they are to work out, as a nation you have to be doing something right to be sitting at the top of those rankings and there is a genuine belief Pakistan may finally have turned a corner.
While experienced duo Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq still lead the charge, they have plenty of youth coming through including opening batsman Azhar Ali and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Both have risen to prominence to be among the best batsmen in the world during recent times, and joined by leg-spinner Yasir Shah they form a formidable trio.
With Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz leading the pace attack, something that will be incredibly important in Australia – particularly in the day-night Test at the Gabba there is no reason Pakistan won’t believe they can’t beat Australia.
This is even more so the case when you consider their recent results include a drawn series on the road against England and a smashing of the West Indies in the UAE.
For Australia to thwart the threat of Pakistan, the key is going to be to slowly wear them down – something mentally Pakistan don’t often handle well.
Pakistan will then hang around for five One Day International matches in the new year, which is a format of the game they have tended to be inconsistent in.
If they can put together a strong performance though, they have power hitting to match any side in the world, and Mohammad Amir to once again lead the attack.
Australia, again must use this series to get their team right and continue preparations for the Champions Trophy. Steve Smith will need to develop his short-form captaincy, and the bowling attack needs to be able to prove it can support Mitchell Starc.
Supporting Starc may be the key to the summer for Australia, given he is coming in under an injury cloud.
Following the Pakistan ODI matches, Australia will go to New Zealand for the already mentioned three ODI return matches, before Sri Lanka arrive down under especially for a three-match T20 series.
In a rather strange decision, one of the matches will be played in Geelong rather than a major stadium around the country but nonetheless it feels like a squash series.
Why a team would come to Australia to simply some T20s in a bilateral series is almost beyond me, but Australia definitely need to win one way or another.
If nothing else to revenge their Test loss to Sri Lanka earlier this year, their performance at the recent T20 world cup was poor, and they need to start building for the next one in 2018 to establish themselves as a powerhouse of the shortest form of the game.
On top of all the international cricket, there will be Sheffield Shield and the T20 Big Bash to keep on top of, setting up a massive feast of cricket for fans and players alike.
Australia vs South Africa Test series
1st Test:Thursday November 3 – Monday November 7 at WACA, Perth (1:30pm)
2nd Test: Saturday November 12 – Wednesday November 16 at Blundstone Arena, Hobart (10:30am)
3rd Test: Thursday November 24 – Monday November 28 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (2:30pm)
Australia vs New Zealand ODI series
1st ODI: Sunday December 4 at SCG, Sydney (2:20pm)
2nd ODI: Tuesday, December 6 at Manuka Oval, Canberra (2:20pm)
3rd ODI: Friday, December 9 at MCG, Melbourne (2:20pm)
Australia vs Pakistan Test series
1st Test: Thursday December 15 – Monday December 19 at Gabba, Brisbane (2pm)
2nd Test: Monday December 26 – Friday December 30 at MCG, Melbourne (10:30am)
3rd Test: Tuesday January 3 – Saturday January 7 at SCG, Sydney (10:30am)
Australia vs Pakistan ODI series
1st ODI: Friday, January 13 at Gabba, Brisbane (2:20pm)
2nd ODI: Sunday, January 15 at MCG, Melbourne (2:20pm)
3rd ODI: Thursday, January 19 at WACA, Perth (2:20pm)
4th ODI: Sunday, January 22 at SCG, Sydney (2:20pm)
5th ODI: Thursday, January 26 at Adelaide Oval (2:20pm)
New Zealand vs Australia ODI series
1st ODI: Monday, January 30 at Eden Park, Auckland (12pm – midday)
2nd ODI: Thursday, February 2 at McLean Park, Napier (12pm – midday)
3rd ODI: Sunday, February 5 at Seddon Park, Hamilton (12pm – midday)
Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 series
1st T20: Friday, February 17 at MCG, Melbourne (7:40pm)
2nd T20: Sunday, February 19 at Kardinia Park, Geelong (7:20pm)
3rd T20: Wednesday, February 22 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (7:20pm)
Australia vs South Africa Test series: Australia 1 – South Africa 1
Australia vs New Zealand ODI series: Australia 2 – New Zealand 1
Australia vs Pakistan Test series: Australia 2 – Pakistan 0
Australia vs Pakistan ODI series: Australia 4 – Pakistan 1
New Zealand vs Australia ODI series: New Zealand 2 – Australia 1
Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 series: Australia 3 – Sri Lanka 0
All in all, there will be 41 days of cricket played on home soil, with three in New Zealand making for a very busy schedule.
It should be a cracking summer of cricket, with some enthralling series ahead of us. Roarers, what do you reckon? Will anyone get the better of the Australians on home soil and how will Australia fare in their series across the ditch?
Don’t forget The Roar will have live coverage of every day’s play during the 2016-17 summer of cricket with blogs and highlights, so be sure to tune in to follow along.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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