There is so much to about T20 cricket that people tend to forget about the Tests. Australia is not one of those people. The team is looking forward not to missing another opportunity for the World Test Championship finals and they are working hard for it.
Australia was penalised points for sluggish over-rates, which prevented them from competing in the 2021 World Test Championship final. Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, acknowledged that his team didn’t realise what they had missed out on at the time of the incident on the eve of the first home Test of a new summer, the first of nine Test matches leading up to the 2023 WTC final.
Pat Cummins on Missing World Test Championship 2021 Finals
“I think being new, it probably didn’t hit us until the game was actually played. You saw over there New Zealand did well and you wish you were there. So it feels like the second time around it’s got a little bit more on it. It felt like a big missed opportunity that first one. So it certainly gives a bit more context to every series now, something big to play for.”
Pat Cummings on Future Test Series
“The big series, say Ashes or India series where you play four or five Test matches are obviously big battles, whereas the more common series where you play two or three in a series, it gives them a bit more global context and something a bit extra to play for.”
For a group of players who are towards the end of their Test careers, Cummins and a handful of his colleagues have started discussing the significance of the upcoming eight months of Test cricket. Talking about the same, Cummins said.
“In the next six or seven months we have got 15 Test matches, hopefully, there won’t be any turnover before that but of course, it is coming.”
Cummins on Current Australia Side
Talking about the current Squad, Cummins opened his heart out. He said, “To be honest it is the most stable team I have played in ever. You could probably have picked the side 12 months ago. I feel like we are in a good spot.”
“I think it is such an exciting opportunity for our group, to play four of the biggest series you are ever going to play as an Aussie Test cricketer within six or seven months, that is a once a career opportunity,” Cummins said. “That’s all ahead of us, that’s exciting. Obviously, a home summer is always big, with a World Test Championship, that’s something big to play for. We get a few wins here it pretty much guarantees our spot in London. As a team we have all come here fresh. We know it’s a big block of cricket and we are excited for it.”
The current Australia Team despite currently holding the No. 1 ranking in the world, hasn’t won as many major Test trophies. Their collective talent may have merited. They now have a golden opportunity during an eight-month period of Test cricket that includes 15 matches against the West Indies and South Africa at home. India and England away. and the WTC final if they make it there. There is a feeling that those 15 Test matches may help the Australian squad leave a lasting legacy
Chances of Australia to Reach World Test Championship Finals
Australia has a challenging four-Test tour of India to contend with in February and March. They have only won one Test there in 14 since winning the 2004 series. Anything less than winning all five Tests at home this summer against West Indies and South Africa could leave them vulnerable to missing the WTC final once more.
With West Indies unbeaten in Test cricket in 2022. South Africa is also sitting second on the WTC table after dropping their past two Tests in England in the middle of the year. Neither opponent at home will be simple to handle.
