After years of turmoil following the culmination of the golden generation, Australian cricket has successfully managed to rise to the fore once again. Up until roughly 2007, it felt like the Baggy Greens had ruled over the sport for an eternity. However, following the retirement of stars such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Matthew Hayden, the Aussies fell by the wayside somewhat.
Problems in 2018 left an even bigger cloud over the team… but it was far from the end for the Aussies!
Justin Langer managed to restore the team to its former glory. He took over as head coach shortly after and managed to restore some pride, regaining the Ashes and even successfully defending them on enemy territory for the first time in 18 years. The former opening batsman resigned from his role early in 2022 after leading Australia to a 4-0 Ashes victory against England in the Land Down Under.
His former assistant Andrew McDonald then took over, and the growth since then has been phenomenal. Here are Australia's greatest moments from throughout his tenure in charge.
Retaining The Ashes in England
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The Ashes is cricket’s most intense rivalry, and it had more drama than a season of reality TV in 2023. Playing on English soil, Australia faced a determined host riding the high of its aggressive “Bazball” approach to cricket. New head coach Brendan McCullum had successfully turned around the sinking England ship, picking up resounding victories against both New Zealand and Pakistan with their heavy metal style of play.
When the Aussies headed to the Northern Hemisphere, many expected the Bazball revolution to power on, leading to an emphatic victory for the hosts. The Baggy Greens however are made of sterner stuff. They announced their intentions in the very test at Edgbaston, with Usman Khawaja’s mammoth 141 and tail-end heroics from Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon securing a thrilling two-wicket victory. Given his contribution, it’s no wonder people are now worried about Lyon’s 2024 injury.
By the second test, the tourists were 2-0 up and Bazball was seemingly a thing of the past. The hosts won a thriller in the third test, but a draw in the fourth ensured that Australia retained the Ashes regardless of the result in the fifth test. That ultimately was won by England, ensuring a drawn series but that the Urn returned to Australia.
Later this year, the Ashes will return, with England heading to Australia in an attempt to upset the odds. However, with the action not getting underway until November, cricket fans could be twiddling their thumbs attempting to pass the time.
Well, fear not, as online casinos have provided some respite in an unlikely place. Attempting to cash in on an Ashes year and bring cricket supporters closer to the wicket than ever before, a popular Australian-based casino online has created cricket-themed slots to keep everyone entertained until the first ball of the series in Brisbane later this year. The Cricket Legends game has proven to be a huge hit with the website's players, and cricket fans can now rejoice at having round-the-clock access to the gentleman's game.
Of course, fans are still on tenterhooks, waiting to see how the Ashes will pan out. Will the Aussies dominate as they have on home turf for over a decade, or will the English secure their revenge? Only time will tell.
Maiden World Test Championship
Perhaps the crowning moment of McDonald's reign thus far came months before they retained the Ashes, when they won the World Test Championship for the first time. Facing India at The Oval in London, Australia put on a clinical display of test cricket. Batting first, their dependable duo of Travis Head and Steve Smith stole the show. The former's counterattacking 163 and Smith’s meticulous 121 built a sturdy foundation, piling up a commanding first-innings total.
On the bowling front, the sharpness of Pat Cummins and discipline of Scott Boland wreaked havoc in the Men In Blue's batting lineup. Boland, in particular, earned widespread acclaim for his wicket-taking spell throughout the second innings, dismissing superstars Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja to lead his side to a dominant victory.
After the maiden triumph, McDonald reflected, “This wasn’t just about one match. It was two years of planning, development, and sacrifice. The boys trusted the process, and this is the reward.” The result made the Aussies the first team to ever win each of the ICC international trophies on offer, and in 2025, they will attempt to successfully defend their crown as they face South Africa at Lord's in June.
2023 Cricket World Cup Victory
If those triumphs showcased McDonald’s tactical acumen, the 2023 Cricket World Cup highlighted his ability to instil a never-say-die attitude. Held in India, the hosts were a huge favourite to win the trophy on home turf. They won every game en route to the final and they were expected to breeze past an Australia side that had hardly pulled up any trees throughout the tournament.
Despite some disappointing results early on, McDonald’s faith in his squad was unwavering. His backing of key players like David Warner and Adam Zampa bore fruit as both played instrumental roles in Australia’s resurgence. Warner’s aggression at the top of the order, paired with the consistency of Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell’s blistering knocks, propelled their campaign forward.
It all culminated in a thrilling final against the hosts in the cauldron-like 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite the hosts having huge home backing and being heavy favourites, the underdogs managed to restrict them to 240 all out, meaning a shock was on the cards. Travis Head then managed to steer his side to glory, rising to the occasion once more with a blistering 137 off 120 balls to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
