Australia will commence a demanding stretch of international cricket this week, beginning with the first of two Test matches against Bangladesh in Darwin on Thursday. This series marks the outset of an unprecedented schedule in which Australia is set to play up to 21 Test matches over the next 12 months, culminating with next summer’s Ashes series. The additional match hinges on Australia’s likely qualification for the final of the World Test Championship, which underpins the dense fixture list.
No other team in cricket history has played as many Test matches within a single year. Previously, India and West Indies each played 18 Tests over similar 12-month periods in the 1980s and early 2000s, respectively, with neither side performing dominantly and both requiring extensive squad rotation and captaincy changes. Compounding Australia’s challenge is the demanding itinerary that includes three major overseas series in South Africa, India, and England. Australia have not secured series victories in those countries for significant periods — last winning in South Africa in 2014, India in 2004, and England in 2001 — making success abroad particularly difficult.
These matches will be captured by cameras for a new season of the fly-on-the-wall documentary series The Test, providing an inside look at the team’s efforts during this taxing period. The South Africa tour holds extra significance as Australia’s first trip there since the 2018 “Sandpaper-gate” scandal. Meanwhile, the home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand are expected to lack glamour, placing more commercial and fan expectations on an England white-ball tour in November and the 150th Anniversary Test in Melbourne.
Head coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey have been strategizing to manage player workloads and injuries through this grueling passage. Despite potential pitfalls, Australian officials remain cautiously optimistic. South Africa has been inactive since November, India’s recent form has been inconsistent, and England is undergoing a rebuilding phase under new captain-coach Joe Root and Stephen Fleming. However, the condensed schedule raises concerns about player fatigue as Australia approach the Ashes, with the possibility of key players arriving physically and mentally worn down.
Australia’s bowling attack, in particular, is vulnerable, with several leading seamers—Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon—returning from long injury layoffs. Fast bowlers are expected to miss matches due to the heavy workload, and injuries have already impacted preparations: Michael Neser was sidelined by a calf strain during a recent training camp, while Josh Inglis suffered from back spasms. Captain Cummins is anticipated to miss multiple games, with Steve Smith likely to serve as a frequent stand-in captain and senior player.
The team’s average age is relatively high, with only Cameron Green under 31 expected to take the field in Darwin. This period may mark the twilight for several veterans including Lyon, Smith, Starc, and Hazlewood, the youngest of these four at 35 years old come January. Performance from middle-order batsmen like Travis Head and Smith will be critical to the team’s success. Players such as Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, and Green are under scrutiny to overcome recent form issues and step up at the crease.
Support roles from all-rounders Green and Beau Webster, alongside wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, will be vital in balancing the lineup. Lyon faces an important test in regaining full fitness ahead of the key Indian series, where conditions favor spin bowling; backup spinners Todd Murphy and rising talent Corey Rocchiccioli will also be monitored. Promising batsmen Matt Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, and Sam Konstas, as well as potential bowling reinforcements Fergus O’Neill and Neser, may push for selection, particularly with an eye to England next summer.
Despite the challenges of injuries and an onerous schedule, Australia’s depth and experience leave little room for underestimation. The team starts its long journey this Thursday in Darwin, intent on navigating one of the most demanding phases in its Test cricket history.