Australia wrapped up a dominant home Test summer with a 279-run flogging of New Zealand in Sydney and immediately turned an eye to heavyweights India next season.
The Aussies completed their perfect Test summer at the SCG this week, thrashing the Black Caps by 279 runs to take the series 3-0.
It marked just the tenth time in their 143-year history they have maintained a perfect record by winning each Test through a summer.
But they know things will be much more difficult in the next year after a tour of Bangladesh in June.
India toppled them for the first time ever in Australia last summer, while the return bout also shapes as a top-of-the-table World Test Championship clash.
“We’ve obviously got our eye on next summer,” Paine said.
“It’s a pretty mouth-watering series for players and for fans (against India). It’s hard not to be looking at that.
“We’re certainly a different side to what they played against last year and there is more at stake with the World Test Championship and both teams eying off that (2021) final.
“It’s going to be an awesome series. They showed last year they have a pace battery that is going to be every bit as threatening as ours.”
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Monday’s finale summed up the season, as Australia’s kings of the summer starred again.
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both scored big runs to help the team declare at 2-217 and set New Zealand an unlikely 416 for victory.
Nathan Lyon took 5-50 to make it ten wickets for the match, while Mitchell Starc claimed 3-25 as New Zealand were dismantled for just 136.
Warner’s 111 was his third century of the series, as it took his tally for the summer to 786 runs at 131. It is the most by an opener in a five-Test Australian summer.
Meanwhile man-of-the-series Labuschagne’s 59 marked his seventh score above 50 in eight innings. It came after his first-innings 215, while his 896 runs at 112 in this campaign are also the most by an Australian in a five-Test summer.
“If you win five home Tests in a row you have done a lot right,” Paine said.
“It wasn’t just the five wins, it was the manner in which we did it. The style of cricket we played.
“Marnus in the last 12 months has gone from a player whose selection was doubted to a top-three player in the world.”
The pair’s only blemish came late in the innings when they were both picked up in the same over for running down the pitch and in the danger zone. They were penalised with five runs added to New Zealand’s first innings score.
But when Starc removed Tom Blundell and Tom Latham in the first five overs and Lyon followed it up with two straight wicket maidens, it was clear it would matter little.
Such was New Zealand’s struggle, only Colin de Grandhomme (52) and Ross Taylor (22) scored more than 20 as Lyon and James Pattinson both took screamers in the field.
The 3-0 defeat marked New Zealand’s first series defeat since 2017 against South Africa, and saw Australia replace them as world No.2 in the latest rankings.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Apparently Alice Springs is in the running to host that Afghanistan Test. Not sure if that is genuine or a pisstake though?
Jay
Guest
For India it will depend upon the toss as well, kohlis has not lost a test in away series after winning the toss past 4 years. But kohli has won few matches in away even after loosing the toss. Toss is one of the most important factor for match outcomes among close teams .
TJ
Guest
Spot on mate the Aussies have been ruthless all summer and really stepped it up on that last day of the Sydney test. Was pretty clear they wanted it over on day 4. The bowling and fielding was probably the most professional and clinical performance I have seen in years. I actually felt sorry for NZ by the end of it..
Paul
Roar Guru
The focus and praise for the Australia side has been largely aimed at Labuschagne, Warner and the bowling unit and they've certainly performed wonderfully well. What really impressed me throughout the summer but especially in the last Test, was the focus and desire to close out games as quickly as possibly and NOT take the foot off the gas. That's been exemplified by the fielding but especially the catching and Paine's keeping. CA has a short video on the best catches this Test summer and what's impressive to me are a) the great catches the Aussie took and b) the catches Lyon & Pattinson took in the last innings of what could have been considered a "dead" rubber. Those catches were as good as you'll see in the outfield and when you include that screamer from Smith, as well as that brilliant stumping off Lyon, it's clear Australia maintained concentration throughout 5 Tests. IMO, this is probably the thing Langer would be most happy with. https://www.cricket.com.au/video/top-10-catches-test-summer-smith-pattinson-wagner-paine-lyon-nicholls-head/2020-01-06
anon
Roar Pro
I think we should have a pink ball D/N 4 day match between Australia vs Australia A the next time we play two minnows during the summer. Even do it next year. Play it at the MCG. Ratings would be huge.
Tanmoy Kar
Roar Rookie
At this present scenario any team including India and England will be defeated by Australia at home.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Very one sided summer but I think most sides would have struggled against this Australian lineup currently. The bowling has been outstanding, far too fast and skilful for the Kiwis to handle. All of the quicks have been very good at various times and Lyon only got better as the summer wore on. I remain concerned about test cricket at the Gabba - don't think Afghanistan is going to be much of a draw, basically we're just waiting for England to come back every 4 years and maybe South Africa to pop by in October or November every so often.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
I reckon that’s a bit harsh on Pakistan and New Zealand. I think both teams gave their all but we are peaking. Our bowling attack is pretty bloody special at the moment, especially in home conditions. And Warner and Marnus have been superb. I’ve personally not found it boring at all!
Phillip
Roar Rookie
This summer of Test cricket also was the most boring to watch as well, either zero effort or little talent from the opposition made it all too easy to inflate our batsmen and bowlers. The near zero resistence from the touring teams made it pointless 90% of the time to watch and now we'll be getting all this backslapping how great this team is meanwhile all forget Australia is hopeless overseas... The next 12 months will be interesting indeed, perhaps tears and crushed dreams for a number of players I predict