Starc compares Australia's away year to a golf Grand Slam

Australia's ageing Test side faces a defining year with tours of South Africa, India and England.

Pace spearhead, Mitchell Starc says winning all three series and retaining the one-day World Cup would be the equivalent of Rory McIlroy winning golf's four majors in a single season.

The 12-month stretch begins with a three-Test series against South Africa in Durban on Friday. Tours of India and England follow next year, along with the defence of their 2023 ODI World Cup title.

Australia have not won a Test series in England since 2001, in India since 2004 or in South Africa since 2014, making it one of their toughest assignments in recent years.

"It's somewhat unusual that you play the three marquee series away from home in the space of 12 months," Starc told ESPNcricinfo.

"And there's two where we, as an Australian team, haven't won in a long time."

Starc added that the pressure also came from the side's age and how long the group had played together.