2023 Cricket Summer Recap

2023 will no doubt go down in history as one of the most exciting and enthralling years of international cricket in England in recent times.

Not since 2005 has there been too much hype around a home Ashes series, with the series producing many memorable moments alongside other highlights throughout the international summer.

In an international calendar that is more congested than ever before, the English ODI and Test teams managed to successfully become teams no cricket fan could ignore.

Here, we will recap some of the most memorable highlights of the summer and touch on what’s in store for 2024.

How the Summer Started

Heading into the summer of 2023, England’s Test team were riding a wave of excitement and anticipation while the one-day team continued to excite and entertain, even under new leadership. 

After dominating New Zealand and India in home series the previous year, it’s safe to say that the hype surrounding “Bazball” was at an all-time high, and all anyone could talk about was whether or not England would continue down the same route against a highly feared Australian bowling line up.

The Most Anticipated Ashes Since 2005

Frequently referred to as the most anticipated Ashes series since 2005, there was genuine belief within the English media and fanbase that England’s new style could not only entertain but also regain the Ashes from the touring Australia side, despite their pedigree.

As a result, fans flocked to the ticket desk, with Edgbaston and Lord’s quickly selling up for the first two Tests.

Needless to say, they were not disappointed.

Crawley’s Cracking Cover Drive

At the top of the mark stood Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins. He is the number one ranked fast bowler in the world, the leader of the best fast-bowling attack in the world, and a highly skilled pace and swing bowler.

At the other, a batter who was wretchedly out of form and was picked despite calls from almost every fan and pundit for them to be dropped prior to the series.

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe that was the public opinion of Crawley before the Ashes started, but all that was about to change. 

As Cummins ran in with a new ball in hand, the Edgbaston crowd rose together in a raucous noise. 

Could Crawley handle this level of bowling, given his recent lean patch?

Would England really continue with the Bazball approach against such a formidable opponent?

It’s safe to say that even the most positive of England fans could not predict what was about to happen.

Cummins sent down an 87mph out-swinging delivery just outside off stump, only to see Crawley lean into it and crunch a booming off drive to the ropes before anyone had the chance to blink.

It was the shot that set the tone for the entire series and was the beginning of Crawley’s best England series to date.

The Root Scoop

When cricket fans think of Joe Root, they envisage a batsman full of class, temperament, and technique. He is a stylish batsman renowned for playing correctly, relying on touch and timing.

So, you can imagine the surprise that rippled across the Edgbaston crown when, on day one of an Ashes series, on the first ball after lunch, Root attempted the now infamous “Root Scoop.”

While the shot didn’t come off, the intent was clear from Root’s cheeky grin back at the bowler.

England weren’t just there to take part. They were there to compete and entertain, which they did throughout the summer.

Bairstow’s Run Out

Jonny Bairstow is a player who is never too far from controversy on a cricket field. Renowned as a fiery, heart-on-his-sleeve type of player, Bairstow often seems like he is in a constant battle with someone, if not himself.

His love for the game and his high work ethic are what have made him a crowd favourite, and his recent heroics in 2022 made him a batsman no one wanted to miss.

So, you can imagine the reaction when he was controversially run out by his wicketkeeping counterpart Carey after he walked down the pitch, thinking it was the end of the over.

Was it within the spirit of the game, or was Bairstow naive to leave his crease?

There was a clear answer in the mind of the Lord’s crowd, who proceeded to boo the Australian team throughout the test match and the following games.

Australia went on to win the vital second test, and the Bairstow runout is now viewed by many as a pivotal point in the Australians retaining the Ashes.

The Bail Switch and Subsequent Retirement

When Marnus Labuschagne nicked behind a Mark Wood thunderbolt at Headingly, the chain of events seemed perfectly normal.

Wood bowled a fast outswinger, clocked at 93mph, and Labuschagne was unable to get his bat out of the way before nicking the ball behind.

So why, then, did Labuschagne seem so irate with the umpire as he was walking off?

Many of us outside of the ground were left perplexed until replays showed that Stuart Broad, who wasn’t even bowling at the time, decided to turn around the bails, the ball before the wicket.

While this is a fun anomaly on its own, Broad wasn’t finished. In his final test appearance at his beloved homegrown Trent Bridge, Broad was told that it would be his last over before Stokes made a bowling change to try and bowl the Australian team out and draw the series.

With one ball remaining, Broad (ever the crowd pleasure) decided to try the trick one more time. The very next ball, we got Todd Murphy to tickle an edge behind, and the rest of the story is history.

The best part? Broad believed this was an old Australian trick, only for each Australian player to say they had never heard of it. 

It wouldn’t be right to talk about the Ashes, without mentioning Broad’s retirement – the man, the myth, the pain in any opponent’s side – Stuart Broad. We’d love to go into more detail about this legend of the game, but I think we will save this for one for a player in the spotlight piece. 

The Jostle for ODI World Cup Spots

However, the Ashes series wasn’t the only scintillating international cricket we got this year. We also had the pleasure of watching the England one-day team take on New Zealand, in preparation for the ODI World Cup in India this Winter.

Lightning Pace on Show

A year ago, no one had heard of Gus Atkinson. Now, the 25-year-old is England’s next big fast-bowling hope. With both Archer and Wood suffering from injuries, Atkinson took centre stage, bowling as fast as 94mph, making him one to watch for the future.

The Ben Stokes Show

When historians look back at this period of cricket, they will struggle to pick the top five highlights from Ben Stokes’ career. The man has single-handedly won international games more often than anyone in recent memory, and he was at it again during the 3rd ODI against New Zealand at the Oval, scoring 182 from just 124 delivers, giving every fan in attendance a day to remember.

While he may not be able to bowl, his batting prowess and experience in the big moments will be crucial for England in India this winter.

Dawid Malan Answers the Critics

England made the bold decision of naming their 15-man World Cup squad extremely early, and one question was on everybody’s lips: “Where is Harry Brook?”

The young superstar had dominated test, IT20 and franchise cricket over the last 18 months, yet he could not find a place within the team.

As a result, many fans turned to Dawid Malan, claiming he should be axed in favour of the younger, highly talented Brook.

Despite Malan’s ODI average being over 60, a modern-day phenomenon, he once again had to answer the critics, and he did so in style, with scores of 54, 96, and 127, firmly cementing his place in the side.

What’s Next For Cricket Fanatics?

After such an exciting and successful summer, what can cricket fans expect from the 2024 season?

England is set to host Pakistan, which boasts some of the fastest, most exciting bowlers in the world, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. Each of these bowlers will provide a new test for England’s batting line-up, and players like Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan will be itching to score big in England.

Then there is the return of previous coach Chris Silverwood, with his revitalized Sri Lankan team. Will Silverwood be able to craft a winning comeback against the odds?

One thing is for sure: you won’t want to miss a ball, and nothing beats experiencing the action live.