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 2nd
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 5th 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 6th episode is
of World Cup 2019 and the 7th and 8th 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!!
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