117. Webseries – The Test – A new Era for Australia’s Cricket Team

I was waiting for writing about this along with other web-series.  But, after having binge-watched this over two days last week, I thought of writing this now itself when it is fresh in my mind.  During my childhood, I had seen the series Bodyline, which was about the bodyline tactics employed by Douglas Jardine of England against the Bradman’s Aussies.  That series was so poignant that it is still etched in my memory.  I was under the impression that no series on cricket will be more absorbing than that.  I am proved wrong with this web-series (8-part series), available in Amazon Prime.  

When I first heard about this series, I thought it would be about the Ashes test between England and Australia.  But I thought wrong.  It is a documentary filmed over a period of 18 months by capturing everything that went on the dressing rooms of the team, their discussions, actual matches and other background details.  The synopsis is as under…

The Australian Men’s Cricket Team has suffered the most significant crisis in living memory when prominent team members are suspended after being caught cheating during a match in Capetown, South Africa.

In the shadow of the devastation, former champion batsman Justin Langer is appointed the new coach. He is charged with rebuilding the team's culture and once again making Australians proud of their cricket team.

While the team rebuilds off the field, they also face drastic changes on the field, with a young side trying to live up to the acclaim that Australian cricket has achieved for decades. What was once the greatest team in the world, is now a young side desperately searching for its own identity and some winning form.

Tensions rise as Langer goes about trying to shape this young team and along the way he is confronted with the realisation that he too must make changes if they are to succeed. Alongside him are the new captains Tim Paine and Aaron Finch, both of whom are faced with their own challenges of form, character and leadership.

Their story covers 18 months as they travel across the globe. From England, Dubai, across Australia and into the heart of India, playing against a dominant Indian side and the world's most passionate cricket fans. Amid their tours, they make pilgrimages to The Western Front and Gallipoli to better understand their own heritage and identity. And finally, they head to England to compete in the sports’ biggest competitions - The World Cup and The Ashes.

With unprecedented behind the scenes access in the sport of cricket, and exclusive interviews, the players tell their own story. A story filled with trials and triumphs, heartbreak and humour.

Ultimately, we watch the team define a new era for Australian cricket.

I saw the initial 2 episodes back to back which was about the aftermath of the cheating scandal.  During the end of the 2^nd episode there was a trailer of the next episode.  It said it was about the Indian team landing in Australia for the test match series, which India won 2-1.  I watched the next 2 episodes, both featuring India matches, back to back.  Next day I watched the balance 3 episodes😊.  Incidentally, the 5^th one is also about Australia playing one day international series in India. 

The entire series is Australia-focused.  Their emotions, how they do team selections, team-bonding and other incidents.  After each day, they do a debriefing session as to what happened that day.  You see scenes, which you would never have thought even in your wildest dreams, to witness!!   The 6^th episode is of World Cup 2019 and the 7^th and 8^th are about the Ashes tour after the world cup.

After seeing the series, I just wish someone can do such a series on Indian team😊.  Brutally frank and all the Australian players expressing themselves on camera.  Most of the moments in the series is captured then and there, like batsman coming back after being “out” in the match, their reaction to the dismissal, getting ready to go in after the fall of the wicket, just sitting quietly in the dressing room and enjoying or being sad or crying, giving feedback after the day’s play.  

You also get to see Steve Smith getting hit with the bouncer from Archer and going out for concussion. You get to see how India dominated Australia in Australia in Tests and one-day internationals.  You see Aaron Finch having nightmares about Bumrah😊.  Australians deciding to ignore Kohli for the Test series and concentrating on other Indian cricketers.  Also, Indians victory over Australia in the World Cup.  And the emotions during the World Cup, when a couple of their guys got injured and could not play, which would have been their last World Cup appearance.

Simply the best web-series on Cricket, till now, period😊😊!!

Cheers till next time.

Today’s Daffy Definition

Aroma – A whisper heard by the nose!!