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The era of Australian men’s cricket team Justin Langer is over, but we don’t have to wait long to find out what the team’s future looks like.
The schedule for the coming weeks and months is tight, with players and interim coach Andrew McDonald facing unique challenges.
As Langer’s reign ended with significant success in the field amid bullying outside the field, the group is under pressure to at least achieve positive results immediately.
Here is what is coming next.
T20 series against Sri Lanka
First, the Aussie T20 will have a hectic series of five matches in 10 days against Sri Lanka starting Thursday.
This will give Australia less than a week to recover from the loss of its head coach and prepare for the games.
Langer led Australia to victory in the T20 World Cup in November, so the team is expected to continue where it left off.
Australia has named an experienced team to the series, including Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Pakistan tour
For the first time in 24 years, an Australian test team is preparing for a tour of Pakistan.
The three-match test series begins on March 4, followed by a series of ODI tests later in the month and until April.
The feeling of anonymity is further compounded by the fact that this is Australia’s first series of tests played abroad since 2019 Ashes, and COVID has kept half at home for most of three years.
In addition, the Australian men’s team has not won any test series in away since it defeated New Zealand in 2016, two years before Langer took power.
It will be an emotional series for the home team and an eye-opening tour for many members of the Australian team who have not been on their way to the mainland.
Meanwhile, a little closer to home, the Australian T20I team will play three matches in New Zealand almost simultaneously with the Tests.
March will be a big month.
Sri Lanka tour
The dates and details are yet to be confirmed, but the plan is for Australia to play the test series in Sri Lanka by mid-this year.
The last time Australia traveled to that side of the world in long form cricket was in 2016, when the hosts lost to Australia 3-0.
Australia has not won a series of tests in Sri Lanka since 2011, which is still the last time Australia has won a series on the peninsula.
Returning with Pakistan in a few months is a huge challenge for Australia and they have to defy recent history to succeed.
T20 World Cup in Australia
Just 12 months after the first trophy was raised, Australia will defend the T20 World Cup domestically in October and November this year.
And because of last year’s success and the fact that they are playing host, outside expectations of the Aussies are winning the tournament again.
Australia’s T20I record over the years has been natural, making last year’s breakthrough win such a significant achievement.
But that now only adds pressure to the team and by then the coach, and failure is hardly ruled out.
What about 2023?
After a summer of home testing, which is currently expected to be visited from the West Indies and South Africa, Australia is facing an insanely large year.
The India tour, the away game Ashes series and the World Cup in India are all on hand in 2023, challenging every player and coach joining the Australian men’s cricket team.
Cricket Australia has talked a lot about moving the team to the next generation. The next 18 months will put this generation to the test.
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Sources 2/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/the-challenges-that-await-australian-cricket-post-justin-langer/100809970 The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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