A summer of Tests has come and gone, and good riddance some will say, apart from the clear highlight of the day-night Test in Adelaide it has been a summer of discontent.
The underdone New Zealanders arrived in the afterglow of the Spring Racing Carnival, with even the most ardent supporters of the game heard asking ‘is there a Test on?’
The first Test had an inevitability about it, the wicket was placid and the ball didn’t swing for the Kiwis. Warner scored a century and Khawaja made the perfect return. Williamson a highlight for the visitors, but overall it was a game that didn’t capture the imagination and the crowds didn’t flock.
So to Perth and 1672 runs spread over five days of bat dominating ball. Mitchell Johnson decided to retire, you couldn’t blame him.
But then Adelaide. Thank god for Adelaide. A tick on most fronts, the crowds flocked and there was a match, albeit only going the distance of three days but it engaged and the summer of Test cricket had reached its peak.
What followed was simply depressing.
There used to be a time when any series against the West Indies would truly excite but alas those days are gone.
The fare offered by the West Indies 2015-16 must surely go down as one of the lowest points in the proud tradition of West Indian cricket.
It should make all cricket lovers weep.
Hobart, let’s not discuss Hobart. Men versus boys. Painful to watch.
Melbourne was up next. It was the same script as Hobart for the first two days, some signs of an improvement in Days 3 and 4 but to put it in perspective after two Tests Australia had scored 1313 runs for 10 wickets, the West Indies 924 for 40 wickets.
And then if the nail was not already in the coffin for Cricket Australia, the rain came to save the West Indies from further embarrassment in what must be one of the limpish ends ever to a summer of Test cricket.
Yes, Warner scored a century but your average second XI Grade cricketer and no longer in his pomp may have fancied his chances. And the series averages told us all, no Australian batsman averaged under 40 and no Australian bowler over 30. Surely a first in any series.
So there it ended. Channel Nine rushed to do some quick on-field interviews.
Mark Nicholas advised us Adam Voges would pick up the Richie Benaud Medal and Warner was man of the match.
Nicholas parted by reminding us that Adelaide has been the highlight of the Test summer and looked forward to us all turning on for the first ODI.
You could sense in his voice that he was pleased it was all over.
And then before we knew it, an episode of Golden Girls (or whatever it was) filled my screen. No presentation ceremony, no visual of the Australian team celebrating their success.
Channel Nine symbolically nailed it, the Golden Girls was more important than the memory of Worrell and Benaud (the Golden boys of their era) being honoured on this sorry occasion.
It was the perfect end to a summer of discontent.
ChrisB
Guest
Things change. Just accept it
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Couldn't agree more. Nice to see a purist with a solid head.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
I thoroughly enjoyed watching a new Australian side develop in the post-Ashes, Ashes. NZ are a good side, let's see how we go over there. NZ have great players. Loved every ball. If you read Babylon on Fire we should be doing everything we can to re inspire the West Indies cricket. Maybe if Chris Gayle started playing for his country and stopped hitting on journalists, would be a good start.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Not discounting Johnners or the great 6/7 team seeking redemption, these English teams did not dig deep,the batting particular. Rabble.
Don Freo
Guest
Is Van Allen a new super villain?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
India didn't tour here in 71. Pakis gave it a crack.
fp11
Guest
S. Kubrick faked the moon landings for NASA. No earthly being, including humans dressed in space suits can survive the radiation of Van Allen belt.
fp11
Guest
WI are not coming back to AUS. CA won't organise any more tests with them. Why? Money. In five years WI will lose test status. Great article.
Andy
Guest
NZ were just not game ready for the first test, i think that more than anything was the reason for the result.
Andy
Guest
This was worse, 06/70 was just a great Australian team having their last hurrah and 13/14 was just Johnson being unstoppable, so both series had their excitement because you were watching greatness. This series none of us were that great its just that the whole of the West Indies were most of the time so bad that we just ran over them.
Andy
Guest
In the West Indies defence i dont think they had anywhere to go than down after that team of the 80s. I cant see how it could have improved. Maybe put Warne in as a spinner somehow but thats mainly because i want to see the team photo and little white, peroxide blonde haired, some may say chubby Warne next to their bowlers.
Andy
Guest
Good cricket requires a semblance of competition or greatness dominating, our batting isnt that good to alone make it good cricket. West Indies did impove but i think part of that was us taking our foot off the pedal because we were beating them too easily, kind of like Germany in the second half against Brazil a few years ago at the World Cup.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
People say the Brisbane wicket was flat, yet that didn't seem to trouble the Australian bowlers one iota. Maybe the Kiwis just had a weak attack with Boult underdone, Southee injured after the first day, Bracewell bowling rubbish, and both Neesham and Craig being utter deadweight at the international level.
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah TO, I suspect you were trying to bait me, but that's okay. To use the cricket vernacular, I just play it with a straight bat.
the older
Guest
well done
Andrew
Guest
What about India in 1971 or Pakistan in 1964, perhaps they were worse
Steve
Guest
In 2000/2001, the West Indies made over 200, three times in 10 innings. That is woeful -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
sheek
Roar Guru
Moon landing was real. It was all about the USA beating their ideological opponents USSR to the moon, showing their superior society in every way. Had there been no cold war, the motivation to get to the moon first would have been more unhurried. Kennedy assassination not so easily resolved, or explained. The problem is that early investigations were hurried & botched, with crucial evidence missed, then missing. This has allowed conspiracy theories to flourish, much like the Chamberlain/dingo disaster many years later. I seriously doubt the conspiracy theories, but not quite enough to fully shut the door on them. The fact is, Americans regularly use violence, even against themselves, to resolve situations they don't agree with.
Don Freo
Guest
I enjoyed it. Now NZ is referred to as "underdone". Before they came, they had "the world's best opening bowlers" and the "best 2 batsmen in the world". Once put in their place by a rebuilding Aussie side bristling with deep reserves of players and great competition for spots, it became a summer of discontent. I love watching emerging Australian cricket strength. The test series was a delightful adjunct to a wonderful Matador and a terrific first 5 rounds of Shield cricket. Now we have the engrossing BBL with its clamouring for a World Cup spot. To top that off, we have the rich promise of ODIs against India and then the rest of the best comp of them all, the Shield. And you want it to be over and are glad when it will be? It's just warming up...and I'm loving it.
the older
Guest
I would love to hear your take on the Kennedy shootings and the moon landing.