DURBAN: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has described the national team’s upcoming 12-month cricket schedule as one of the most demanding periods of its recent history, comparing the possibility of achieving every major target to Rory McIlroy winning all four golf majors in a single season.

Australia are preparing for a demanding sequence of Test assignments in South Africa, India and England, while also seeking to defend their ODI World Cup title.

A Packed Year for Australia

Australia’s challenging run begins with a three-Test series against South Africa, starting in Durban on Friday.

The team will then travel to India and England for major Test series during the following year. Alongside those contests, Australia will also have the task of defending its ODI World Cup crown.

The combination of these commitments has created an unusually demanding calendar for the Australian squad.

Starc believes successfully completing the entire campaign would represent an extraordinary achievement for the team.

Starc’s McIlroy Comparison

Starc compared the potential accomplishment to McIlroy completing a clean sweep of golf’s four major championships in one season.

His comparison reflects the difficulty of Australia’s schedule. The team has not won a Test series in England since 2001, in India since 2004 or in South Africa since 2014.

Winning all three away Test series would therefore require Australia to overcome some of its longest-standing overseas challenges.

Adding a successful World Cup defence would make the achievement even more significant.

South Africa Provides the First Test

The immediate challenge is South Africa.

Australia’s three-Test series begins at Kingsmead in Durban, putting the experienced Australian bowling attack under pressure from the opening match.

The series is also significant for the World Test Championship picture, increasing the importance of every result.

Australia will be relying heavily on its experienced pace attack as it begins the difficult overseas campaign.

India and England Await

The challenges will become even greater when Australia travels to India and England.

India has historically been one of the most difficult destinations for visiting Test teams, while England presents its own unique challenges because of conditions, a long-standing rivalry and the pressure surrounding major Test cricket.

Australia’s inability to win Test series in either country for many years means both tours will attract enormous attention.

The team will need consistency across batting, bowling and fielding to remain competitive through such a long campaign.

Experience Could Be Australia’s Advantage

Australia’s squad contains several highly experienced players who have spent many years playing international cricket together.

Starc, who is 36, acknowledged that the age of the squad has become a frequent topic of discussion.

However, the fast bowler indicated that the players remain focused on what they can accomplish before the current generation eventually moves on.

The experience of the senior players could become particularly valuable during difficult overseas conditions.

Pressure on an Ageing Core

The Australian team is entering an important stage of its development.

Several members of the established squad are now in their 30s, meaning the current group may be approaching the final major phase of its international careers.

That reality adds another dimension to the upcoming schedule.

Rather than focusing solely on the age of the players, Starc has emphasized the opportunity available to the group.

The experienced core has already achieved major success, but another successful overseas campaign could further strengthen its legacy.

World Cup Defence Adds Another Challenge

The Test assignments are not Australia’s only priority.

The team will also attempt to retain the ODI World Cup title it won in 2023.

Managing the workload of senior players while maintaining competitiveness across different formats will be an important challenge for the Australian coaching and selection staff.

The transition between Test cricket and limited-overs cricket could require careful planning throughout the season.

A Defining Period

For Australia, the next 12 to 14 months could become a defining period.

Winning three major overseas Test series would already represent a significant accomplishment. Adding another World Cup triumph would take the achievement to an even higher level.

That is why Starc’s comparison with McIlroy’s four-major sweep has attracted attention.

The Australian players are fully aware of the scale of the challenge, but they also recognize that opportunities of this kind do not come around frequently.

Australia Chasing an Extraordinary Achievement

The first step comes against South Africa, followed by major Tests in India and England.

Australia’s experienced players know that each series will bring different conditions and different tactical demands.

For Starc and his teammates, the objective is clear: compete for victories across every assignment while trying to extend the success of the current generation.

Whether Australia can accomplish the entire mission remains to be seen. But if the team manages to win all three away Test series and defend its World Cup title, it would rank among the most remarkable achievements of this Australian cricket era.