Opinion
After a tumultuous 2022, the Australian cricket team is set for another blockbuster year in 2023. This will be a massive test of Pat Cummins’ captaincy and the grit, resilience and depth of Australian cricket.
After concluding the series against a meek South Africa outfit, the focus shifts on the hottest Test series in modern day cricket: the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This will be Australia’s first Test visit to India in six long years, a time frame which includes two home series defeats to India.
Whilst the 2018-19 summer can be forgiven due to the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, the 2020-21 series is frankly an embarrassment for Australia, as an almost third string Indian side managed to pluck a magnificent win, ending a 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba. Take nothing away from India though, they seem to bring out their best fighting spirit against the Aussies.
Australia are heading to India with some good form but winning there is a whole different beast. There are still question marks about who the second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon will be, and whether the form of some batsmen like David Warner and Travis Head can translate overseas.
Travis Head of Australia bats. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
However, Australia would be sensing a little vulnerability in the Indian set-up. They had a very low 2022 for their standards, with team selection all over place, constant injuries to key players and loss of form for the big batsmen. They only just scraped a Test match win against Bangladesh last week.
In recent years, the Australian cricket set-up has made it very clear they highly value winning in India, and it will be very interesting to see what their preparation for the tour will consist of.
After the tour of India, the Aussies have another chance to make history. Unless a disastrous run of form occurs, Australia will be playing in the 2023 World Test Championship Final at the Oval, in early June.
Whilst the premise of the WTC is still a little raw, this will be a brilliant opportunity for Cummins and the lads to secure a trophy. This match will most likely be against India, with South Africa the other possible opponent.
Next up is the biggest series for Australia, the Ashes. To think that this series would be close, even in English conditions, 12 months ago would’ve been laughable. However, this English outfit has had a complete transformation, albeit with essentially the same core of players, under the guidance of Brendon McCullum and leadership of Ben Stokes. ‘Bazball’ has done so well, most recently producing three stunning wins in Pakistan.
Australia would be hoping to build off their success in the 2019 Ashes, and will be confident to do better with a great arsenal of fast bowlers built up.
England have been very poor in Australia in recent tours, but the last couple Ashes in England have been very closely contested. This year also promises to be even, and it could well be the final homecoming for James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The Ashes will have a June start for the first time since 1997.
To cap off the year after those three test assignments, and before the home summer, is the 2023 ODI World Cup. After two years of T20 World Cups, the ODI format will make a resurgent return to relevancy this year.
The tournament will take place in India, and will be the same format as 2019. This will be Australia’s first white-ball tournament without Aaron Finch since 2012, and will surely be Warner’s last. Australia are playing two separate ODI series in India this year, which will provide great preparation. It’s hard to make any big judgements about the Aussie side at the moment but they have managed to win seven of their nine ODI series post-COVID.
These are the blockbuster series for the Australian cricket side in 2023. At the end of this year there will be endless discussions and it could be the last year for many Aussie players. The legacy of Andrew McDonald and Pat Cummins’ leadership will be on the line, but there’s no doubt they will give each series a great fight. Can’t wait.
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