news-engine

Darwin Test centurion Green eyes 2023 repeat as Australia face ‘tough 12 months’ Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is approaching the Aussies' upcoming international schedule as a chance to match their history-breaking calendar year of 2023 when they won the ICC World Test Championship Final for the first time and claimed a sixth ICC Men's Cricket World Cup title. The Aussies just re-commenced their World Test Championship campaign with a disappointing nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Darwin, but get the chance to atone straight away when they take on the Asian side in the second and final Test in Mackay that commences on Saturday ahead of a gruelling schedule across the next 14 months that includes difficult tours to South Africa, India and England before the next installment of the 50-over World Cup towards the end of next year where they will try and defend their title. It's an eerily similar path the Aussies took when claiming a first World Test Championship mace at The Oval back in 2023 and Green is hoping for positive results from their upcoming Test fixtures will help give them a chance to win a second title at Lord's in June next year. “It’s going to be a really tough 12 months, we’ve got the three hardest away tours, South Africa, India and England coming up as well as a World Cup, so it’s reasonably daunting, but also exciting for this group,” Green said in Mackay on Thursday. “We had a pretty similar schedule in 2023, and had a really successful year, so we’re hoping for the same." Green played a major role in helping Australia to the 2023 World Test Championship title, but has only recently found his best form in the Test arena with the right-hander having scored a superb century against Bangladesh in the first Test to help further cement his spot in the Aussies' best XI. While Green is hoping he can continue to score well at Test level, the 27-year-old knows the task becomes more difficult being able to do so consistently away from home. “(Away tours) can be really exhausting, so it’s just taking it game by game, not looking too far ahead and just enjoying it. They can be really long tours and hopefully, you can drag your family across and just enjoy the moment," Green noted. “No one really enjoys being away from home for that long, so it’s kind of like bringing your family on the road and making that your new home.” A sneak peek as Australia celebrate their ICC World Test Championship 2023 triumph after victory against India in the WTC Final. Green revealed he is attempting to stay more patient at the crease while batting in an attempt to try and build and innings, rather than chasing a quick score. “When you’re trying to force it, you want to do really well when you’re playing for Australia, sometimes you try to force those results, and unfortunately, in Test cricket you can’t score a hundred within 10 overs, you have to bat a few hours to get there, and when you feel like you’re forcing it, you’re trying to rush it too quick, so trying to get into that tempo that does work," Green added. Series schedule: First Test: Bangladesh won by nine wickets Second Test: August 22-26, Mackay