Five things we want from this summer of cricket

Summer is just about upon us, which means the cricket season is just winding up for what should be a memorable few months.

Smart fixturing reaping rewards
It just makes sense to give the Test XI as much preparation as possible, doesn’t it?

Last year one lousy round of Sheffield Shield was all the fixturers could fit into the schedule before the first Test against the strong South African side, and the Aussies were thumped as a result, especially in Hobart. Most of the side was coming off a Test series in Sri Lanka and the one-day domestic competition in Sydney and Brisbane. The home conditions were somewhat foreign.

So to have three rounds of the Sheffield Shield before the first Test is a welcome change. And yes, it is sad to see Ed Cowan miss out, but being able to bring in David Warner and Steve Smith is a luxury and a necessity.

It seems like on every tour to England the Aussies receive criticism for not playing enough warm-up matches. It’s important not to sell ourselves short at home, either.

So is having no international cricket between the end of the footy seasons and the start of the Test series a problem for Cricket Australia? Absolutely not, because we’ve got…

Women’s cricket flourishing
Cricket fans have no reason to complain about a lack of cricket in October and early November, because the Women’s Ashes is underway and on free-to-air television (good job, Channel Nine).

Yep, it kicked off on Sunday with the Aussies winning a cracking ODI by two wickets. Every match – be it Twenty20, one-day or Test – counts towards the Women’s Ashes, so our girls have plenty to play for every time they run out in green and gold.

Women’s cricket is certainly on the rise and the accessibility of the sport for young girls has been a big factor – think WBBL last season on Channel Ten. My local cricket club has formed their first women’s side this season, a prospect that only three years ago would’ve been laughed at.

If Rachel Haynes and her troops can regain the Ashes this summer in the national spotlight, the growth will only continue.

(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Domestic form rewarded
This is a no-brainer and something we hope for desperately every time a national side is selected. Reward the guys getting it done for their state!

Yes, there’s already talk about who should be at number six and who should replace Josh Hazlewood if he doesn’t come up, but realistically these three games coming up should be the deciding factor. Not the sole factor of course, but a very big reason behind the basis of selection, in my opinion.

The selectors have a thankless job, but they know that going in. So no pity for them, please.

Big Bash records
Can you believe it was two years ago that over 80,000 people attended a match of domestic cricket? Truly bonkers.

It would be fantastic to see that happen again, wouldn’t it? With some new internationals already signed and more matches at this season’s tournament, why couldn’t it?

BBL and WBBL is a bit of hit and giggle, but the prospect of Mitchell Johnson steaming into Chris Lynn still gets me excited.

Ashes redemption
All the other points aside, this is the sole aspect that many cricket fans will judge the success of the summer on.

Those back-to-back Ashes series spoiled us, and now it feels like it’s been an age since Australia last faced the old enemy.

In case you can’t remember, England won at home 3-2 in one of the closest series in recent memory. Chris Rogers and Shane Watson were still in the top order and Steve Smith got a double ton at Lord’s.

Every single match-up in this Test series will be brilliant:
Brisbane: Australia’s fortress.
Adelaide: Another five-day thriller?
Perth: The WACA’s last Test.
Melbourne: Playing in front of a packed cauldron.
Sydney: The cherry on top.

Come on Aussie, come on.