Australia’s ageing Test side face a defining year with tours of South Africa, India and England, and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said winning all three series and retaining the one-day World Cup would be the equivalent of Rory McIlroy winning golf’s four majors in a single season.
Australia begin the daunting 12-month stretch with a three-test series against South Africa in Durban on Friday, before tours of India and England next year and the defence of their 2023 ODI World Cup title.
Mitchell Starc had a brilliant Test in Mackay.Getty Images
Having not won a test series in England since 2001, India since 2004 and South Africa since 2014, the Australians face one of their toughest assignments in recent years.
“It’s somewhat unusual that you play the three marquee series away from home in the space of 12 months,” Starc told ESPNcricinfo.