Follow UsAustralia skipper Pat Cummins is one of the few World Cup winners who returned to the country on Wednesday (November 22). It has been a hectic year for Australia, who have been away from home since February and, in the next months, have taken on India and Australia in gruelling Test series, winning the World Test Championship (WTC) title, retaining the Ashes and most recently, beating India in the World Cup final in front of a packed crowd in Ahmedabad.
There were fears that the Australian team would run out of steam in the World Cup. Their losses against India and South Africa in the first two matches of the World Cup further indicated that. However, the Aussies won seven on the bounce to lift their sixth World Cup title.
"Every half an hour or so, you kind of remember that you just won a World Cup and get excited all over again. We're still buzzing," Cummins said upon his arrival at the Sydney Airport.
"It's been a big year. To top it off with this, it's been amazing. I think they have created their own legacy. A World Cup, you only get one chance every four years and especially playing somewhere like India, it's hard.
"Adding to that an away Ashes series, a World Test Championship. We couldn't have planned for much better. So a pretty satisfied group."
Players like Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and others, who were part of the triumphant World Cup winning squad, will take a breather until their Test summer gets underway at home agianst Pakistan on December 14 in Perth. A few others, like player of the final Travis Head, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and others, will take on India in a five-match T20I series starting Thursday (November 23).
Mitchell Marsh, who also returned to Australia - albeit landing in Melbourne - says he will be surprised if Head manages to play the first T20I, just four days after his blistering ton in the final.
"I'm not sure he'll be playing that game. I'm no selector or coach, but if he plays that game it will be a miracle," Marsh, who is tipped to take over as Australia's permanent T20I captain, said.
Marsh will be hopeful of making the Test squad against Pakistan but will face stiff competition from fellow all-rounder Cameron Green. "Tools down for a little while. Get home, see the family, relax, and get ready for the summer," Marsh said, on his immediate plan
"Playing Pakistan, who have played some great cricket this year...it's always an exciting summer."
Green, who played just three matches in the World Cup, is keen to get his preparation for the summer started by turning up for Western Australia against Queensland for the Sheffield Shield encounter in Brisbane, starting November 28. Alex Carey, who was dropped after the World Cup opener against India, is in line to turn up for South Australia agianst Victoria next week.