3 sides most capable of winning the inaugural Test Championship

2- Australia

Toughest upcoming series: Away to Bangladesh, Away to England, Away to South Africa.

Easiest upcoming series: Home to India, Home to Pakistan, Home to New Zealand.

3 key players vital to Australia’s success:

Steven Smith

Despite all the controversy surrounding Smith and the ball tampering scandal one thing is clear. If Australia wants to win the first Test Championship they will need plenty of runs from their banned skipper.

Since reinventing himself as a batsman, Smith has been the best Test batsman in World Cricket. Smith has scored 6199 runs at a remarkable average of 61.37 runs per innings. He has scored 23 hundreds and 24 fifties in his Test career.

Smith is so valuable to Australia because of his ability to play spin bowling well. This is a skill Australian batsman often lack. For example, in India Smith averages 60.00 with the bat. He has scored 660 runs from 6 Tests in a country where Australian batsman often struggle to score runs.

If Australia is to win matches away from home Smiths input with the bat is going to be crucial.

Josh Hazlewood

As the leader of the often-feared Australian pace attack, a lot of responsibility rests on Josh Hazlewood’s shoulders. He may not have the pace of Starc or Cummins but Hazlewood has compiled a record in Test Cricket that is as good as many greats of the game.

In 40 Test Matches, Hazlewood has taken 151 wickets. These have come at an impressive average of 26.84 runs per wicket, and strike rate of 57.3 balls per wicket. What makes Hazlewood so valuable to Australia is his consistency.

He bowls with a similar plan to Glen McGrath. His ability to stay injury free is also impressive and means Australia can plan team selection around him being fit to play.

His ability to tie up one end and lead the attack is why Australia will need him to be at his best if they are to win the Test Championship.

Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon is a cult figure in Australian cricket. Despite being known for many things other than his bowling his record is quite special. He has taken more wickets than any Australian off-spinner in history and has many more years left in him yet.

In his career to date, he has taken 306 wickets from his 78 Test Matches at a very respectable average of 32.21 runs per wicket. Lyon is repeatedly forgotten about in this Australian team.

What makes him so impressive has been his ability to be effective in all conditions, even when there is no turn or bounce for him. If Lyon can continue his good form not only will he go close to 400 wickets over the next 2 years, but Australia will also go close to winning the Test Championship.