Australian Career

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AUSTRALIA NAME SQUAD FOR WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

31 May 2023

David Warner has been included in an Australian squad for the last time, with the veteran opener retiring after the World Test Championship Final. With more than 8000 runs from his 101 Tests at an average of 45, Warner will retire as one of Australia’s greatest ever players. After making a triumphant 200 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Boxing Day Test, Warner nearly said farewell at his home ground in Sydney. After playing his hundredth Test in India, Warner will depart the international cricket scene at The Oval.

Usman Khawaja will continue at the top of the order, with the now-familiar middle order of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head. After struggling and eventually losing his place during the last Ashes tour in 2019, Head has now emerged as one of the most important figures in this side.

Captain Pat Cummins will be joined by two of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. As always, they’ll be supported by the irrepressible Nathan Lyon who is now within sight of 500 Test wickets.

Reserve batsman Matthew Renshaw rounds out the 13-man squad. An expanded 18-man squad for the Ashes will be announced after the final.

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner


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AUSTRALIA CROWNED WORLD CHAMPIONS

11 June 2023

Australia 300 (Smith 90, Unadkat 4/66) & 417 (Head 157, Khawaja 121, Jadeja 5/81) defeated India 283 (Kohli 50, Hazlewood 3/47) & 256 (Rahane 67, Starc 6/52) by 178 runs.

After missing the previous World Test Championship Final due to slow over rates, Australia are now officially the world champions. India were confident of victory after beating Australia in each of the last four series - twice in India, twice in Australia - but an impressive all round performance from Pat Cummins’ men saw them emerge victorious.

Cummins won the toss and batted first but, an impressive 90 from Steve Smith aside, none of the Australian batsmen made the most of the conditions. Falling just short of his thirty first Test century, Smith looked in good touch ahead of the Ashes later this month. India were bowled out for 283 in reply, with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc claiming three wickets each and Cummins taking two.

Big hundreds from Usman Khawaja (121) and Travis Head (157) pushed Australia to 417 in their second innings, with Ravi Jadeja’s 5/81 the only consolation for India. Head’s innings was particularly impressive, with the left-hander blasting 24 fours and 3 sixes in his 176-ball stay.

Set 435 to win, India were bowled out for 256 shortly before lunch on the final day. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishin made a decent start before Starc had the Indian captain caught in the gully for 33. From there, India lost wickets at regular intervals with Starc claiming another five, the left-armer finishing with match figures of 9/130.

Head was named man of the match for his game-changing 157.

Australia now look ahead to the Ashes and an opportunity to win a series there for the first time since 2001.

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AUSTRALIA NAME 18-MAN SQUAD FOR THE ASHES

12 June 2023

A day after winning the World Test Championship, Australia have announced the 18-man squad that will look to retain the Ashes.

David Warner’s retirement creates a vacancy at the top of the order, with Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft vying to partner Usman Khawaja. Bancroft finished as the leading run scorer in Shield cricket last summer, while Renshaw and Harris have both scored runs in County cricket this season.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh returns to the Test squad for the first time in four years, providing cover for Cameron Green. Todd Murphy will provide cover for Nathan Lyon after impressing on his maiden tour to India, while uncapped Josh Inglis will provide cover for Alex Carey.

The squad includes five specialist quicks, with captain Cummins supported by Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Michael Neser. With five Tests in quick succession, only Cummins is expected to play every game. With Boland’s metronomic consistency and Neser’s ability to swing the ball in English conditions, Australia can rotate with confidence.


First Test - June 16, Edgbaston

Second Test - June 28, Lord’s

Third Test - July 6, Headingley

Fourth Test - July 19, Old Trafford

Fifth Test - July 27, The Oval

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc


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ASSERTIVE AUSTRALIA SECURE EARLY LEAD IN ASHES

20 June 2023

Australia 397 (Labuschagne 116, Renshaw 106, Robinson 4/74) & 315 (Khawaja 66, Anderson 4/103) defeated England 228 (Pope 63, Cummins 3/43) & 337 (Stokes 81, Hazelwood 3/55) by 147 runs.

A powerful and confident performance from the World Champions and reigning Ashes holders saw Australia take a 1-0 series lead at Edgbaston.

Returning to the side in the wake of David Warner’s retirement, Matt Renshaw made the most of Pat Cummins decision to bat first. Renshaw left the ball well early, before driving and pulling his way to a second Test century. Marnus Labuschagne putting a lean tour of India behind him, top scoring with a brilliant and patient 116. Cameron Green’s muscular 52 aside though, no other Australian batsman managed a score of note and the tourists were bowled out for 397 early on day two.

England were disappointing in reply, bowled out for 228 with Cummins and Starc taking three wickets each. Cummins removed both openers cheaply before Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon tore through the middle order. Ollie Pope was the only batsman to show any real resistance, top scoring with 63 from 118 balls.

Batting again late on day two, most of the Australian batsmen made impressive starts without anyone pushing on to a big score. After going wicketless in the first innings, Jimmy Anderson took four wickets while Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad took three each. Australia were eventually bowled out just before lunch on day four for 315, setting England 463 to win.

Any ideas of Bazball were cast aside, as England adopted a patient and circumspect approach to the chase. Zak Crawley (45 from 118), Ollie Pope (57 from 129), Joe Root (51 from 120) and Ben Stokes (81 from 159) batted tried to take game deep, but another three wickets each to Cummins (3/63) and Hazlewood (3/55) saw Australia over the line with 147 runs to spare.

Australia take a 1-0 lead to Lord’s.


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BRILLIANT POPE SQUARES SERIES FOR ENGLAND

2 July 2023

England 475 (Pope 206*, Cummins 4/94) & 6/242 (Brook 73, Cummins 3/59) defeated Australia 305 (Smith 59, Anderson 5/92) & 410 (Green 112, Robinson 5/113) by four wickets.

Fresh from their victory in the first Test, Australia would have been confident after Cummins won the toss and Khawaja and Renshaw made it to lunch unbeaten. Both openers brought up half-centuries, before being trapped in front by Jimmy Anderson for 54 and 56 respectively. Anderson then removed first Test centurion Marnus Labuschagne for 4 to leave Australia at 3/122. Head (28) and Green (38) made decent starts before Smith top scored with 59, but Australia again failed to push on to a big score, bowled out for 305 late on day one. 40-year old Jimmy Anderson was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 5/92.

England were dominant in reply, with Ollie Pope’s brilliant unbeaten 206 from 318 balls driving the hosts to 475 and a first innings lead of 170 runs. Pope made two impressive half-centuries in the first Test, but was on another level here. He brought up his second Test double hundred, going one better than his previous highest score. Harry Brook (82 from 105) and Ben Stokes (79 from 118) provided excellent support while Pat Cummins (4/94) and Nathan Lyon (4/104) were the best of the bowlers.

Australia were far better in their second innings, with Cameron Green recording his third Test century. Eventually dismissed for 112 from 152 balls, Green hit 19 fours and 3 sixes on his way to his highest Test score. Green was well supported by Alex Carey (72 from 88 balls), Matt Renshaw (77 from 171) and Usman Khawaja (62 from 116) as Australia push their way to 410, setting England 241 to win.

England get there easily, with Brook (73 from 97) and Stokes (52 from 76) driving England to victory with four wickets in hand mid-way through day five. Cummins (3/59) and Starc (3/85) take another three wickets each, but Australia simply didn’t have enough runs to defend. Pope was named man of the match for his brilliant double century and England will take some fresh confidence to Headingley, the site of their most famous victory.