Like most people, I had hoped for a far more competitive summer of Test cricket in Australia than the one we witnessed in 2022-23.
The West Indies were very poor, despite a broadly held belief that there had been real improvement in their play after a solid 2022. South Africa barely fired a shot; outclassed, out-batted, out-bowled and out-thought by an Australian team as impressive on home soil as they traditionally are.
Frankly, the Aussie team needed something more challenging and character building than the walk in the park that the Australian summer became.
Potential weaknesses under pressure were hardly exposed, bar a few moments that confirmed some commonly held opinions and every Australian to a man and his dog knows that what lies ahead over the next six months has not been made any easier by the cruisy summer recently enjoyed by the Australian Test cricket team.
Rather than becoming aware of what new/developing players might be able to offer and contribute in the subcontinent against India and in England against what is certain to be an aggressive and confident team during the Australian winter, we really just witnessed a summer of confirmation.
David Warner solidified for the umpteenth time that he is a menace on home soil and frightfully dangerous when the ball is doing little.
He also reminded us of his impatience and ageing hand-eye skills that make him ever more susceptible early in an innings.
David Warner (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Moreover, he added another layer of fear into those who feel that another tour to India, where his returns have been meagre, might well signal the end of what has been a brilliant statistical career on Australian pitches.
Usman Khawaja did little more than confirm that he must remain the rock at the top of the Australian innings for the short term, so deft, skilful and positive was his play.
Marnus Labuschagne also reminded Australian fans of his immense talent, with success on foreign shores the thing that will confirm him as one of the best players in world cricket.
Steve Smith has nothing to prove to fans and will travel to the two destinations on the Australians’ upcoming schedule as the fulcrum around which much of the team’s batting success could depend.
We all knew Travis Head was a dashing and positive player, particularly in Australian conditions, and he stamped that ability with a match winning innings and enough evidence to suggest that he may well be a medium term proposition in the Australian middle-order.
Yet Head now travels abroad with a poor record and the selectors and fans hopeful rather than certain of something different this time around.
Everyone keeps talking up Cameron Green and we all see glimpses of his talent. However, aside from the odd flash prior to injury, I am not sure he re-joins the team with anyone feeling as though further steps have been taken in his development, although his wallet has certainly developed some girth!
Cameron Green celebrates a wicket. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Perhaps one of the few players about whom we learnt a great deal was Alex Carey. Still nestling into the ‘keeper role, he confirmed the selectors’ faith in him and despite the unique challenge of turning Indian pitches, heads abroad with the confidence of his team and captain.
From a bowling perspective, we learned nothing about Scott Boland, except the fact that he is still capable of being the metronome we hoped he could still be and Mitchell Starc remained the wild, quick and astonishingly effective strike bowler that could well be an asset in very short spells in India.
Pat Cummins’ captaincy continued to develop, yet after being mostly untested against sub-standard opposition, it is likely to be fully examined in both England and the sub-continent, where he may sink or swim based on the ability of his soldiers to handle the crucial moments that will ultimately decide the series.
Nathan Lyon, and to a lesser extent Ashton Agar, confirmed that on domestic pitches with plenty of bounce, they are generally capable of bowling Australia to victory on days three and four.
However, the Sydney Test highlighted the challenge of dominating the final days on dusty, decaying turners such as those found in India.
Lyon has bowled well in both England and India throughout his career, yet will need to be even more dominant and be aided by a wingman should the Aussies even dream of conquering the sub-continent.
It was an enjoyable summer for those cheer-leading the Aussies around the country and we will all be doing the same as they embark on a year of challenge and difficulty.
Yet the season just passed taught us little and despite the belief we may have in our male cricketers, they would be far better prepared for their next opponent after having played a couple of decent teams during the Australian summer.
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