3 Australian Players to Watch Out For in The Ashes 2023

image-lisptas3Australia with the Test mace after winning the WTC 2023 final against India (Source: AP News)

With the WTC 2023 Final over, we have moved on to the next cycle of the World Test Championship. The cycle starts with the iconic Ashes between the all-time arch-rivals England and Australia. It is England's turn this time to host the iconic rivalry. 

Before the series starts, we will look at the Australian players who might make the biggest difference for them. With the WTC win behind their back, Australia will be walking into the series with a lot of confidence. While the English will seek to regain the Ashes, Australia will try to defend The Ashes. Moving on, let us look at the three players from Australia who would make a difference for the team.



Steve Smith

 In the final of the WTC 2023, Steve Smith proved his class and calibre. His knock of 121 off 268 balls stabilised things for the team when they were struggling a bit at 71 for two. The way Smith went about his business provided a platform for Travis Head to play the knock of 163 runs off just 174 balls and take the game away from India. 

image-lispxjbwSteve Smith will be a key player for Australia in The Ashes 2023 (Source: Twitter)

Besides his recent form, Smith has an excellent record in England. He has played 17 matches in England, in which he batted in 32 innings. Smith has scored 1882 runs at an average of 60.71. With seven fifties and an equal number of hundreds, he is definitely holding the key of Australia in the series.

Marnus Labuschagne

Pitched in as Steve Smith's protege, Marnus Labuschagne climbed the ranks fast in Test cricket. From his first match in England, where he came in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith and impressed everyone with a gutsy fifty, to becoming the number one Test batter of the world, it has been quite a journey for Labuschagne. 

image-lisq072qLabuschagne will play the key role of batting at number three for Australia (Source: AP Photo)

Marnus handles the critical responsibility of batting at number three for Australia. In the WTC final, we saw him playing the role of the grafter and taking the sting away from the opposition's bowling. He has 420 runs under his belt in five matches at an average of 46.67 in England and will be looking to end his current run of being unable to convert the starts. The hunger in Labuschagne to score runs will be a key factor for Australia in the series. 



Travis Head

If England has 'Bazball', can we say Australia has a perfect reply in 'Headball'? Travis Head played a match-winning knock of 163 runs off 174 balls in the WTC final. His strike rate of 93.68 in the innings allowed Australia a cushion and enough time to bundle out India twice in the match. 

image-lisq21u7Travis Head will be a very important batter in the Australian line-up (Source: AP Photo)

Head has played ten innings in Australia and has scored 372 runs in them at an average of 41.33. Coming to bat in the middle order, Head can accelerate and take the game away from the opposition. His ability to play with positive intent in the middle order will be vital for Australia during the whole series.