Last Sunday, Australia beat the odds and overcame India in Ahmedabad to win the nation’s sixth Cricket World Cup. Led by captain Pat Cummins, the Aussies defeated the tournament hosts in front of more than 100,000 India fans in what will go on to be considered one of the greatest victories in Australian cricketing history. While celebrations are no doubt continuing among the Baggy Greens and their supporters, the cricketing summer Down Under is just getting started…
Following what has been a thrilling women’s tournament so far, the Men’s Big Bash League (BBL) will be the first port of call for many of Australia’s national team stars when the competition gets under way on 7 December. Among the home heroes set to take part are Glenn Maxwell (not long removed from a record-breaking double century against Afghanistan), Marnus Labuschagne, and Adam Zampa. The BBL is not just a place to spot famous Aussie faces though – England's James Vince, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, and Pakistan’s Zaman Khan are all due to make an appearance.
The big-hitting action of the BBL will keep cricket fans entertained right through until 17 January, but in the meantime, the Australian national team will return to the oldest form of the game as they face Pakistan in a 3-match Test series. Kicking off in Perth between 14–18 December, the series will see Cummins take the reigns once more, alongside the likes of David Warner and Nathan Lyon. After the popular annual Boxing Day Test at the MCG between 26–30 December, Australia will wrap up the series in Sydney between 3–7 January.
Rounding off the summer, and ringing in the New Year in style, Australia will welcome the West Indies in early 2024. Beginning with a 2-match Test series across Adelaide and Brisbane in January, the new ODI world champions will then play 3 one-day games in Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra between 2–6 February. Finally, between 9–13 February, expect wickets, sixes, and thrilling T20 action as the West Indies battle the home side in 3 matches of cricket’s most exciting format – it's the perfect way to round off another epic summer of cricket Down Under!
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