[Usman] I really wasn't enjoying where the Australian cricket team
was heading before the sandpaper stuff happened.
I didn't think we were playing the game in the right spirit.
And the rest of the world hated us.
They thought we were dicks.
[newscaster] Amazon Prime Video has revealed their top titles,
and sitting at number one is that much talked about cricket documentary.
Yeah, The Test.
This is a behind the scenes look into the rebuilding of the reputation
of the Australian cricket team after that 2018 sandpaper scandal.
[Tim] Some of you have got so many fucking theories.
We got a fucking series coming out of this fucking thing
and you're not even good enough for that series yet.
[Ashton] I did watch the docu last time around.
Um...
I saw bits of it, yeah.
Yup, I saw, um...
Yeah, I saw most, most of it. Yeah.
No, I never watched it.
I don't really like watching myself back and doing things.
No, I lived it.
[cheering]
[Tim] Still got two Test matches.
Keep nailing the process we got in place to beat these blokes,
it's going to work.
[Nathan] What Paine did at his time as captain was incredible.
[cheering]
Paine was just a great people person.
[Mitchell] The way he led us through that time.
Paine, he was just a great Australian captain.
[Tim] A lot of you keep thinking about,
not just for this Test match, but every time you play for Australia,
remember who you're representing.
I genuinely believe that JL brought humility back in the Australian team.
[Tim] You're representing the whole country.
[Pat] Here are the expectations,
here are the values, and we needed to hear that.
Good heading.
Yes, push some pace.
We need someone to, you know, tell us how to hold us to that.
[Tim] Marnus, very good.
[Marnus] You know, what he saw in me? I don't know
if everyone saw that.
So, you know, I've got a lot to thank him for.
We can beat them and we will beat them.
[cheering]
[Gideon] Tim Paine and Justin Langer come in
and do a rescue mission for Australian cricket.
They get it back on an even keel.
Then within 12 weeks both of them are gone.
Where does that leave Australian cricket?
[Pat] I felt like this Ashes series, we had a full squad of players
that were, like, ready to go, top of their game.
Just a bit more experienced.
It had been in our calendar for,
you know, a long time and we were all ready.
It was just about how we're gonna win the Ashes.
How we're gonna get one up on England?
[Pat] In '19, we went out and played extremely good cricket
and did something pretty special.
But we just didn't put the icing on the cake and finish them off.
[Steve] It was great to retain the Ashes away,
but, um I still felt, you know, we never actually won anything.
[Mitchell] Mate, my defence was--man,
I've got, like, 100 with Josh Hazlewood [indistinct]
We hadn't seen Paine in quite a while
because he's--obviously just plays the Test matches.
I was still looking forward to getting the Test group back together
and the spirits were quite high.
[pensive music playing]
Um, where was I?
I was...
I think I was at...
We just got, like, a random text.
Yeah, kind of was just all out of the blue.
Thanks for coming, everyone.
I'm just gonna make a brief statement.
I won't be taking any questions today.
[exhales]
Today, I'm announcing my decision to stand down
as the captain of the Australian Men's Test Team.
It's an incredibly difficult decision,
but the right one for me, my family, and cricket.
We begin with breaking news on an Australian cricket bombshell.
On the eve of the Ashes series, Tim Paine has stood down
over allegations he sent lewd text messages
to a female former employee of Cricket Tasmania.
I have loved my role
as captain of the Australian cricket team
and it's been the greatest privilege of my sporting life
to lead the Australian Men's Test Team.
I'm grateful for the support of my teammates.
I'm proud of what we've been able to achieve together.
[female reporter] The team now finds themselves without a captain.
[male reporter] This may be the most significant job in Australia--
the captain of the Australian Test Team.
[male reporter] It leaves Australia's preparations for the Ashes in chaos.
He's been our captain for a long time.
He and I have been through a journey like we have with all this group.
He's obviously shattered with what's happened.
[male reporter] Eighteen days before an Ashes Series begins,
and our Australian Test captain-- well, we're looking for a new one.
[Gideon] Tim's a very likable guy.
He did something really dumb.
He'll be the first to admit that,
and it was hard to watch what had happened to him.
[Gerard] Tim Paine was entrusted with an awful lot--
the reestablishment of the Australian cricket team.
[Isa] You know, he stood up
at a time when Australian men's cricket was at its lowest point.
And the difficult thing was who replaces Tim Paine?
[Pat blows raspberry]
Dada.
- He's letting [indistinct] - He know what's high-five.
Who would've thought?
[Becky laughs] High-five.
Dada.
[baby] Dada, dada, dada
[Pat] Dadada.
I feel like our life is making baby noises...
- [Becky] Yeah. - ...trying to get him to repeat them.
[Becky] Um, my dad loved motorsport,
Formula One, and a bit of rugby.
Apart from that, there was no sport in our household.
Um, no football, no cricket, so when I came over,
I didn't honestly even know you could play cricket for a living.
And Pat, um, told me-- actually, he lied to me.
- Told me he was a, um... - I didn't lie.
White lie.
It wasn't a lie because you were a student.
- Told me he was a student. - [Pat] Yup.
Walked past the KFC.
I saw a picture of Pat's head with a bucket on his head,
and I was like, "What?"
And then, when I got to work and told the girls,
we went on Twitter. We were looking at Twitter, so innocent.
Um, and they had blue tick, and I was like,
"The guy's got a blue tick." So, got you in a lie with that blue tick.
Good boy.
- Kick it. Yay! - Yay.
When you were gonna have Abby,
the biggest thought process for cricket was
cricket takes so much of my time and effort.
Like what's...?
Having a baby, like, is that--
am I gonna be as good?
Am I gonna be able to concentrate as much?
[Becky hums, laughs]
- [Becky] So proud. - [Pat] Ready?
I remember chatting to Scotty Boland about it
and I was like, "But what happens if you're tired and you gotta play?"
And he goes, "Well, you're tired and you play."
I was like, "Okay. Yeah, that makes sense."
[Becky] Yeah, you just do it.
♪ Tik, tok, tik, tok, it's one o'clock ♪
[Pat] When Paine announced he was stepping down as captain,
half of me was trying to be a dad and help Becky and Abby.
And the other half was--
well, the Ashes is starting in two or three weeks and I might be captaining.
NEW CAPTAIN
Australia has a new cricket captain tonight and he's a local.
Western Sydney's Pat Cummins.
The announcement this afternoon ended days of speculation
following the resignation of Tim Paine.
[news anchor] It really is an historic day with Pat Cummins unveiled
as our 47th Test captain and he's the first fast bowler
to lead the team since Ray Lindell back in 1956.
[Pat] Yeah, it was just a really surreal moment.
It's not like I did anything. I just went to sleep one day
and woke up the next day,
and-- and I was Australian Captain.
[Gerard] Pat's dropped in the deep end
two weeks before the biggest tour on the Australian calendar.
[man] I think probably just to start we begin the soft trial,
show the coaches how you want to run, what you're looking for.
[Pat] There are so many little jobs as a captain come up,
which I've just never experienced.
The Australian game day is so,
after a batting game with the chaps,
we'll get together pretty quickly.
Working, like, ten minutes or so once we get in.
Kind of the gut feeling but didn't get the process right, I think.
Because, you know, as the new captain,
everyone's going to have an opinion.
I think they're not completely world upside down,
but I felt like it was for that week.
I'm a big believer in concentrating
on our own game and making sure that's in order.
I remember that feeling of going,
I'm not sure how this is going to work.
[Gerard] Australia didn't just lose its captain in Tim Paine,
it lost its wicket keeper,
and suddenly there's that glaring vacancy
heading into an Ashes as well.
[cheering]
[Nathan] Oh, it's definitely a wrecking ball.
Paine not being there, um, probably more
because he's probably the best keeper I've ever bowled to.
[Alex] Yeah. Tim did a fantastic job with the group.
The test team had a lot of success under his watch,
and I think he was one of the best guardsmen that this country has seen.
[Gideon] They were fortunate that they had Alex Carey there.
He'd done his time in the one day team.
I don't think he ever imagined he'd be playing that first test.
[Alex] You know, you have a lot of thoughts that go through your head,
like, shit, how are you gonna go?
And then, we had to wait until that first Test at the Gabba,
and that's sort of when it hit me, it's like, "Well, that's pretty real."
[Bobby] See you.
Let's do it, bud.
What are you gonna get at the pub?
[Louie] Lemonade.
[Bobby] Look at that. Look at the mud.
[Louie] What?
[Bobby] It's normally a Friday afternoon.
Pick up Louie and come down and catch up with Travis.
- Hello, mate. - [Travis] All good.
- Cheers, mate. - Cheers, Louie.
Cheers, Bobby.
[Bobby] I love spending time with him just because whatever he says,
I get a laugh out of.
A northern boy who's living the dream playing cricket for Australia,
and he just hasn't changed one bit, which is awesome about him.
Thank you.
[Bobby] Like this looks silly.
[Travis] I think just a little bit of fortune to move as close as we are,
kids and I.
On the cricket field
he gets a little bit superstitious, very nervous.
But off the field he's a very relaxed, calm influence.
Having Alex in the dressing room just makes
for a better Australian cricket team, I think
[Travis] We need a financial planner, will you?
[Bobby] Yeah, Westpac Call Centre gave me a little stint.
I think that lasted four weeks.
[Travis] Better than myweek of plumbing work experience in 2010.
[Bobby] Yeah.
Yeah, I think Test cricket, it was always a goal to play that.
But then the way the team was go...
- [Louie] Let's go outside! - Hey, buddy, in a minute.
We'll play buck hunter in a minute, Lou.
[Travis] We always thought that you will be the next keeper.
- [Bobby] I think, that's... - But you still thought it was about
- 10 other keepers that were ahead of you. - [Bobby] Definitely, yeah.
- [Travis] Yeah. - [laughter]
[Bobby] It was nice to be around the corner from a close friend,
to know the neighbourhood, and have a baby on the way.
I think you'd be great as a father.
You have parents and people tell you
how you might do it or how you could do it,
but we've found, like, do it your way.
But yeah, if you get a good sleep, you're going to be a lot happier.
If you don't, then all the best.
- [Louie] Can I have a lemonade? - [Bobby] Oh, no.
- [Louie] Coming up. - No, there you go. There you go.
- Have that one. - Cheers, mate.
That's a bit of soda water.
[acoustic music playing]
[Pat] When Paine announced he was stepping down as captain.
There's parts of it I absolutely would love to do.
But there was a really strong sense of,
'I've got enough going on.
I love just going out and bowling.'
And I think probably what tipped it over was the bunch of boys I was captaining.
They're all really good mates, you know.
I love them to death. I feel like I could do a really good job.
I just opened up my phone then.
And I've just been added to a WhatsApp group
called Legends with Scott Morrison and Justin Langer in it.
We have a WhatsApp group of Starc-ky and I called Legends.
[man] Thank you, mate. Cheers.
Hope I don't send this-- anything to the wrong group.
[laughs]
The first thing I wanted to do as a leader
was basically take a step back and not do too much.
The outcome for me is I want it to be relaxed
and to--basically, yeah. Just remove stress.
So, I don't know what it is, but it's-- it's like,
how do we diffuse the tension of a B Ashes series?
[Pat] You know, I think the way Tim had left the team
was in a great way where all the players could be themselves.
For me, a big part of that is just empowering all the individual players.
The third test, when we're all tired
and everyone gets on each other's nerves
a little bit, all of this shit hitting the fan,
how do we wanna make sure this environment stays the same the whole time?
Um, personally, I love a relaxed environment.
Others might need something different.
[Ashton] Patty was under enormous pressure
because it was a really difficult time to step in.
All the external pressures, they fall on the captain's shoulders.
He handled it like a genius.
[Pat] I think for us, it's just sticking together
as much as you can, and togetherness is a big thing.
How do we keep that good vibe going?
Because we had a lot of finals in the World Cup.
But now that we're all together with families around,
how do we keep that good vibe?
I guess, we just got on with business, as you know,
one step passed every few days of the week.
And then you just get back to business and the Ashes coming up.
Ruthless, ruthless, ruthless.
From the start to the end-- not give them a sniff.
And not let them in.
[man] The nature of the game is ups and downs,
not every session around, but every day.
So it's--I don't think after one day
and then the great-- we have a great time.
Again, don't get too hot.
Just think we've got to find level ground.
Players and staff really crave consistency.
Over the last kind of couple of years,
there's times where that just the environment wasn't that.
[tense music playing]
[Pat] A lot of this was born from the Indian series--
us not thinking we were up to scratch.
[commentator] India's stranded three short.
Australia three wickets short.
[cheering]
[commentator] You cannot believe what you're seeing at the Gabba.
India win the Test and win the series.
[Steve] Losing to India at home is hard to take.
[commentator] One of the most incredible sporting performances
ever seen on Australian soil.
India simply outplayed us.
[commentator] Beaten two one by India's B side.
There'll be a big fallout from this.
[Pat] After losing to India,
I think we as a team thought,
"All right, what's next for us?
If we wanna be number one in the world, we've got to be to get better at."
[tense music playing]
[Pat] Before the T20 World Cup
was a defined moment where we're gonna bring
every contracted Australian player together,
and we're gonna have to camp up in Gold Coast.
It was dubbed "Culture Camp" but it was essentially a couple days,
let's be vulnerable, let's talk about the environment
we wanna create, how we wanna play our cricket,
and really set ourselves up for what was gonna be a big summer
with T20 World Cup into the Ashes.
Both Finch and Paine had been captain for probably two years,
and I think they both feel that the time
was right to take a step forward
and lead both teams respectively as their group of boys
and, you know, here are our values.
And you know, JL and other coaches
were always basically to keep us on that path.
JL was given feedback from the semi players in our group
around certain things that they sort of
wanted him to improve on I guess, as a coach.
[David] People express passion in different ways.
And for Justin, his was rotting every ball.
[Nathan] I've always said that you can never
criticize anyone who is extremely passionate in what they do.
And that's exactly what JL is.
Did I struggle with some of the ups and downs?
Yeah.
So, probably the biggest feedback from myself is that,
just emotional levels from JL.
Some people felt like, you know, walking on eggshells.
[Usman] There's plenty of guys who don't speak up,
who don't talk, and were afraid of JL.
They were--yeah, that's the truth.
It sort of, um-- it was at the point where JL
realized he had to pull back massively, and he did that.
[Mitchell] He listened.
Like, he did everything that was asked of him as a playing group.
[Pat] The players wanted to create their own environment.
And, yeah, it's us taking responsibility for the team.
You know, common theme was own your space.
[Mitchell] We have a direction that we wanna go.
And for the players to take ownership of that,
I actually think that's one of the biggest steps
that we've taken in the last six years.
Whether we're any good, time will tell.
[female reporter] The Ashes get underway tomorrow at the Gabba
with a new captain, a new wicket keeper to kick off the series.
Coach Justin Langer says a fast start in Brisbane
will go a long way to retaining the urn.
[Pat] A bit of prep, just writing down a few notes.
I'm drawing up a few fields.
I've never captained spinners before especially Red Bull,
so I think we're getting there,
but Khawaja has played 100 tests.
If he can't sort it out, no one can.
Being captain, I've got to be across fields
to line or even left arm might be slightly different for Starc-ky.
Then, I have a lot plan B, plan C kind of options
if they get in and face 100 balls.
As much as anything, haven't played a test in 11 months.
So, I'm trying to remember how test cricket runs not 2020s.
[mellow music playing]
[Pat] In the last couple of days,
I made a more conscious effort to cricket time now,
so all my time and effort goes into the team and preparing for the game.
I'm not too nervous, but there's so many unknowns.
Even tomorrow, lik,e first time we got for a DRS,
I don't really know what's gonna happen. [laughs]
Like, I've never--like it's...
[indistinct] it's one of those two.
Um...
Yeah.
This is me not even day one.
This is day zero, so I'll probably lose my hair in a couple weeks.
I'll say I'm very relaxed.
I feel relaxed but let's see how it goes.
Losing one Test match, that might change.
Uh, the captain's blazer which I've--
I've worn once so far, to the media,
uh, Ashes launch, but it's pretty cool.
I think that's what will keep me day one still out at the Gabba.
When I've got this on and then walking out for the toss,
that's...
that's gonna be crazy.
I grew up watching [indistinct] Ricky Ponting do it.
I reckon it's not gonna hit me until I'm out there.
[upbeat music playing]
[commentator] Wherever you are around the world,
we thank you for joining us here at The Gabba for day one
of this Ashes Test Series.
[Isa] Debuting as a captain in a big series is, uh,
big enough as it is, but to do it in, you know,
the ultimate contest of playing in Ashes,
that's just another level.
Well, The Ashes, it means everything to England, Australia.
[Gideon] The Ashes series is pretty fundamental to our sense of self.
In this country we particularly don't like losing in Australia.
[commentator] So much to look forward to to day one
of this much anticipated Ashes Test Series.
What a rivalry.
Nearly 140 years' worth,
and the next chapter is about to be written.
Joe Root wins the toss,
decides to bat. Rory Burns on strike. Carey debut.
Mitchell Starc fall in hand. We're set to go.
[Nathan] Representing Australia
in the Ashes at home doesn't get any better.
[man] Let me know when you're ready, Lyon.
[Alex] You've got all these amazing moments in Test cricket history.
It just normally comes back to the Ashes.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] You get judged by big tournaments.
You know, you can make a hero of yourself forever
if you really dominate the Ashes Series.
[crowd cheering]
[tense music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music playing]
The crowd just went absolutely berserk.
And so, okay, we're in the middle of an Ashes Series here.
This is awesome. We're underway.
[upbeat music playing]
[man] Come on.
[commentator] A wedge taken beautifully.
Alex Carey gets his first Test match catch.
Ruthless start.
Australia dominating here at The Gabba.
Taken!
And Cummins, the captain, gets the massive wicket of Ben Stokes.
Patty's first as the man in charge.
England four for twenty-nine.
Feel good out there?
Yeah it's nice mate yeah, boys are bowling well hey?
Were you just itching for that first ball in your gloves?
Just want that first ball in my gloves.
I mean, I was happy with the first ball!
[upbeat music playing]
[commentator] It's taken. Carey with another.
Patty Cummins gets his third, and England now at 8/122.
Hazelwood rides down there again, takes another beauty.
And the skipper
has taken far for against England for the very first time.
And at this early stage, the captain can do no wrong.
England all out for 147.
Pat Cummins, a standout 5/38.
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Don't ask me for [indistinct]
Yeah, we made it.
[indistinct]
Anyone want washing?
Washing?
[man] Put the socks in?
-Uh, yes. But I mean, that's, uh. -I'm the [indistinct].
[Pat] Awesome start.
Carey debut, first catch. Great start.
[applause]
[Pat] And we talk about relentless.
I thought all the bowlers-- Starc-ky, that spell in particular
in the middle, I thought it was fantastic.
So, terrific work. Get at them tomorrow.
[commentator] Day two of the first Ashes Test.
It was all about Australia yesterday,
but can England counterpunch today?
See there? That's the key, right? You have butter on that side, boom.
Boom.
Make it crisp on both sides.
It's sizzling.
Now watch it, boys. That's how I like it.
So this is the trick of the trade, right?
So now, not many people do this,
but I like the toastie actually cold.
For now, boom, in the fridge.
And get that cheese side up, go for a heat, come back.
Boom, toastie is ready to go.
[commentator] So here we are in warm, sunny conditions.
Australia with a lead of 46
and David Warner to resume on 94.
Chipped up in the air and out!
Would you believe it?
[commentator] Ah, real shame. He actually deserved 100 debut.
Warner, he played so well. He's gone for 94.
[commentator] They have fought back strongly, the English.
[commentator] Green on that [indistinct] delivery.
This is the chance and they have to take it now.
[crowd] Yeah.
[commentator] Boland first ball! Ollie Robinson on a hat trick.
[commentator] England back in the contest.
[Steve] We had a really good start and then Greenie got out.
Robinson was on a hat trick, walked out to bat.
So that's never good to-- to go out there
and it could be a hat trick in your-- in your first game.
[commentator] That heart will be pounding through the chest.
Now is the time for England, right now.
[Steve] To walk out to bat and stand out there with Travis,
it sort of felt you've been there with your mate before
and I get a great sense of confidence from that as well.
[commentator] Here we go. Robinson on a hat trick.
- [commentator] All, all right. - [commentator] Roll balled.
[commentator] Roll ball. Good cricket.
[Steve] There was a bit of pressure on to yet absorb
what the pumps are throwing at us,
but I was lucky enough to have hit it at the other end.
[commentator] Suddenly, this game has come alive.
Australia lead by 48.
[Travis] We've played a lot of cricket. We live around the corner from each other,
so to go out in the middle in, you know, in a high pressure situation,
England fighting back, it helped probably both of us.
[commentator] Travis Head, and he's taking the team.
He's got to go on with this start.
It was contentious in some quarters selection.
Many thought Usman Khawaja should be out here on The Gabba.
Travis has--dies out and it's a maximum.
[Travis] Yes, I had a fair bit to prove, but leading to the Test,
Pat had words to go out and express myself.
[commentator] Slash hard.
Great authority there from Travis Head.
[Pat] My message to him was just be yourself.
You know, pundits and commentators want everyone
having a big step forward and a nice straight bat.
Well, that's not his style.
[commentator] Firmly through the off side.
That will be 50 for Travis Head.
[Pat] Don't care what everybody else thinks.
Do it your own way.
[commentator] Travis Head. Look at that for a cricket shot.
Two steps, bye.
[Travis] We call it owning our own space,
trusting each individual's preparation.
And obviously with that, you've got to perform.
[commentator] Head, continues his powerful innings and moves to 77.
[David] I mean, that's the environment that we've got now,
where everyone is, like, we're playing freely.
[commentator] Top edge, clears everyone.
[commentator] Gee whiz, four-ball.
[commentator] Has anyone told Travis this is a Test Match?
[commentator] Yeah, 66.
That was a guy who was playing without fear.
He was doing it his way.
[commentator] Beautifully down the ground.
A brilliant innings by Travis Head.
His first ashes 100, his 30 Test match cricket,
and it's a statement of the finest quality.
[applause]
[Alex] It was an amazing innings and it's just amazing
just to be able to witness it as a-- as a close friend,
but to be a part of it, um, for a small part was just incredible.
- [indistinct] - That's why I do this [indistinct]
[Alex] I learned a little bit, too. It's okay to go out and play
a natural game and, um, take the game on a little bit.
It's a game of cricket.
Do it your way and do it in a way that works for you.
- Congrats. - [indistinct]
[commentator] Right from the very first ball of the Test,
Australia have controlled this match.
[Mitchell] We don't feel like we own the Baggy Green.
Catch!
Yeah!
[commentator] Is that it? Is that the moment? It is!
Nathan Lyon.
His 400th Test match wicket.
[Mitchell] We understand the privilege we have
to wear the Baggy Green, to represent our country,
and hopefully, we can win a few things along the way.
[commentator] It's taken by Carey.
He equals the record--
most dismissals on debut for a wicket-keeper.
[commentator] And Australia
take the opening Test in the Ashes in emphatic style.
[Justin] Well, I'm not gonna lie. I'm gonna be pretty rusty.
It's been 12 months.
12 long months that we've been thinking about this,
but there's a few things that has come across my desk.
[laughter]
[Justin] But first, thank you that, um, we've got a new captain.
It's always been about being calm,
ruthless when you do that.
But, Pat honestly,
the way you conduct yourself on and off the field,
but more importantly on the field, has been absolutely exceptional.
You led the way, you finally have a bowler as the captain.
I've really enjoyed that.
Um, but mate, congratulations, well done.
I'm really excited about the future that, um,
that holds around the corner for us, so.
[all] Hurray!
- Yeah. - Did she go up to Brisbane?
No, no. Mom came to the last game.
Okay.
It's good to be here [indistinct] with my big game.
So, what's the message you wanted
to ask me, and then I could sign
and finish that question?
Um, what it's like to play cricket for Australia?
The main reason why I'm starting to learn Auslan
because I love the work that I do with the inclusion program.
But I find the--probably, uh, the hardest to communicate with is the deaf team.
I just wanna be able to ask, uh, genuine questions
to make sure everyone's involved and no one's--
not leaving anyone out.
Playing cricket for Australia.
[Isa] Great job.
[Travis] I genuinely enjoy coming down here.
Even though I can't bat, hopefully, I can, uh, pass on
a little bit of wisdom after balling this maybe in Davie for the last decade.
Where I grew up in Young, one of my next door neighbours has got,
uh, Down Syndrome and she used to always come into the home
and didn't know-- no matter what time it was,
just to see mum or--mum or dad.
So, I kind of grew up with disability around our family, I guess.
It's a beautiful game and I just wanna be able to give back
to the game that's given me so much.
Shot, mate. Very good.
Your sign name,
we've talked about that before.
It's going to be, Nathan.
Nathan.
- Nathan. - All right.
- Thank you. Thank you. - Thank you.
Here you go.
Okay, on this side.
[indistinct], but I'll give it to you.
- [Nathan] How's the family? - Family are good.
I was supposed to go--you know, tonight, they rang half an hour ago,
saying they had a COVID case [indistinct]
- We'll probably get in there. - Yeah.
They should've been here at [indistinct]
[Justin] Really?
[David] [indistinct]
We're in.
We're in Adelaide.
They say every building you see on the hill,
that's owned by Travis Head.
How could we have done this last game like warm-ups, [indistinct]
I thought it was great, lad.
I-- I made that point.
I loved that damn day for our little channel.
There were lots of thoughts on who should bowl.
I loved how we got together at the breaks
and just channel on how it felt for you guys,
- but just channel the information. - [Pat] Yeah.
[Justin] I loved how we cleared out the whole change rooms.
- [Pat] Yeah. - So, there's no--
hardly any people in there.
So you guys got the change room to yourself.
I know what that felt like, but from--different from last year maybe.
- Yeah. - Um...
That felt really good.
The-- the only question is the process,
- that's all I'm worried about. - Yeah.
The process, you don't have to be perfect.
But I honestly think if, if we just keep our foot on them,
they're gonna-- it's gonna bury them like...
[Pat] I was really excited to play in Adelaide.
We got a great record there, never lost a pink ball game.
I felt fresh, I felt ready to go.
Um, I feel like I've started to get a grip on things.
Caught up with a mate for dinner the night before the Test match.
Uh, halfway through dinner, these guys came in, say good day
and they sat down. About half an hour later, they came over,
white as a ghost, and they said, "Just to let you know,
our mate's just got a message saying he's positive for COVID."
[man] At least, Pat is very likely to be called "a close contact,"
which means he's gonna have to isolate for seven days.
You know, he's had some exposure to this bloke
who's highly infectious for half an hour.
And, uh, so even if there's some miracle and they didn't call it close contact,
if he would've tested positive during the Test, then we all--
must all inevitably become close contacts
and that would not only knock out this picture but the next.
[Pat] It really started to hit me that I was missing a Test match.
that's when I started to get angry. At no one--
at no one in particular, just the situation.
You know, just got my feet under the desk, and suddenly,
you know, I was no longer captain, no longer playing.
[commentator] Hello, and welcome to the beautiful Adelaide Oval
which hosts England for this--the 2nd Ashes Test Match.
Some huge breaking news here this morning-- Pat Cummins,
Australia captain, has been ruled out of this Test match.
That is due to Pat being deemed a close contact
of a positive COVID case last night.
The news on his departure from the team is that Michael Neser
will make his Test debut, captain number 462.
And in one of the greatest redemptions in Australian sports history,
Steve Smith is Australia's captain again.
This is gonna be a close [indistinct]
[David] Oh, dude.
They come out?
Yeah, I got long arms.
[David] Where's yours?
At home. Didn't think it was required.
[David] Well, I carry mine every time they said.
But I hadn't been home.
[David] Yeah, that's true, yeah.
[commentator] Steve Smith has won the toss and has elected to bat.
[Marnus] Everyone knows that cricket is a major part of my life, but, you know,
the value of me as a person isn't in cricket, it's in my faith.
I grew up with Christianity, going back to when I was, uh,
a young kid laying in my bed praying every night.
I might not be the carbon copy Australian cricketer
that people thought, but I'm me.
All right. This one.
[indistinct]
I need to put a bird on it.
[Pat] Marnus has got, uh, I think it's an eagle on the bottom of his bat.
- [indistinct] - [indistinct] always--
The eagle is always on my bat.
Um, you know, I think I've played every single Test
with, uh, the eagle on my bat.
And what verse is it?
Isaiah 40:31.
For those that hope in the Lord, he shall renew their strength.
[commentator] ...Marnus Labuschagne.
[Marnus] He shall soar on wings like eagles.
He shall run and not grow weary.
And walk and not be faint.
[commentator] This is gonna be an important battle.
[commentator] England have to win this Test.
To lose this match and go two nil down,
the series is over. They have to come back and fight.
He'll be right on the money, first ball. Here's Stuart Broad, he'll be pumped.
[Marnus] I got a really good bowling attack.
- Oh. - [commentator] Oh, this is good.
[Marnus] If you just weren't attentive for one ball...
[commentator] The pressure building on Labuschagne.
[Marnus] ...they will just catch it and...
[commentator] Twenty-five dot balls in a row now.
Yes!
[commentator] Grinding effort by the Australians.
[commentator] Scoring is not easy.
[commentator] Marnus Labuschagne, 46 deliveries, ten in his name.
- [commentator] Oh! - [commentator] Oh, nearly to the fielder.
[Nathan] Marnus and how lucky he is, it's remarkable.
[commentator] Takes, and catches it! Oh, just over the head!
[David] I actually did say I'm starting to think
Marnus is the luckiest cricketer in the world.
- Oh! - [commentator] No bait on Labuschagne.
Josh Buttler dropped me twice.
Two sitters.
[commentator] Oh, that did it! Oh, Buttler!
[David] Every second innings, he gets two or three lives,
so he must have that little crow on the bottom of his bat that sits there.
[commentator] Six points, three others remaining,
just over twenty minutes of play left.
Marnus has been in the 90s for 34 deliveries.
256 balls.
[commentator] And it's about now 20 minutes to go
when the nightwatchman gets padded up.
I don't think Travis Head will fancy going out there now.
[Peter] The nightwatchman is an expendable entity.
It's somebody whose wicket doesn't matter.
It's somebody who knows they're not as important as a batsman.
It's a bowler.
[Nathan] The nightwatchman role is-- it's a little bit ridiculous.
Oh!
[Nathan] The batter gets scared,
they send the bowler out there.
And usually, it's about 20 minutes.
But that 20 minutes can be pushed out to 30 minutes.
When they are going from one nightwatchman to two,
so my thinking is if we've got two nightwatchmen,
Jhye and Starc-ky might be able to bat up as well.
What do you reckon?
I can't believe it [indistinct]
[Michael] [indistinct] was actually more nervous than me,
which doesn't make sense.
He's played many Test matches and this is my first one.
Oh!
[commentator] Hit a bat on that! Oh, fall safely!
[Nathan] What do you think the public want?
Do they want you to go first or they want me to go first?
A hundred per cent they love the [indistinct]
and it's all [indistinct]
[commentator] Oh!
[Nathan] In the tar pits,
wait-- wait until he won't--
don't even look out the window
and you can see at the back of that [indistinct]
Shit, I know where I'd rather be.
It's quite nice actually to have two nightwatchmen batting up,
because he's never been to-- because he knows what I'm feeling
and I know what he's feeling.
[commentator] Labuschagne dropped.
Oh!
[commentator] Oh but the drop by-- and you wouldn't expect...
Oh, man.
How many times is he gonna--come on.
Oh, I know.
- Do you think it's working [indistinct] - Yeah.
[commentator] Final ball of today's play to a patient man as Labuschagne.
Come on!
Woo.
[commentator] Day two and it is thirty-seven degrees out there.
And then, the partnership that carried Australia
through the stumps will resume.
Hello, Cam.
- Morning, boys. - Good morning, guys.
[commentator] Gonna start again, Marnus Labuschagne.
Two hundred and seventy-five balls faced,
ninety-five not out so far overnight.
[Marnus] One of the biggest things in sport is your mind.
And once your mind goes down a path, you can't stop it.
It just-- it just goes down that path.
And yes, I don't think stickers matter until you start thinking it matters.
[commentator] Yes.
A fine hundred for Marnus Labuschagne,
full of patience, grit and skill,
his sixth to a century,
and his first against England.
[Peter] That century for Marnus was significant.
The jester steals the crown.
Marnus Labuschagne is now the number one Test batsman in the world.
[Marnus] It was probably a different hundred.
I never felt like I was in the whole innings.
It's about the whole day and be night out.
And then, come back the next day
and-- and be able to get two or three figures, uh, was special.
But, you know, as a batter, you're never satisfied.
[commentator] Edge! And taken.
Come on.
[commentator] Labuschagne a bit disappointed with that.
[commentator] Trouble. That's a no-ball.
[commentator] Oh, no, you got to be kidding.
How lucky is he?
That fucking bird on the bat. Like, what the hell?
[commentator] Marnus all smiles.
[commentator] Buy a lottery ticket.
[Nathan] I want him to get that bird tattoo'd to him.
[laughter]
That's remarkable.
[commentator] Now, we're all set. Australia declaring on 473.
[commentator] Let's have a bowl with England.
[Jhye] When Pat was sidelined in Adelaide,
everything from externally that was coming into the group,
going, "What's gonna happen now?
What's the plan?" Like, I think the whole group
definitely felt a little bit of it.
But it didn't feel like we would crumble.
[commentator] Oh, he's got the look--
[commentator] Oh, look at that, he's fired up.
[commentator] He's got the look in the eye.
[Marnus] You know, obviously, Pat is a massive miss
just because he's, you know, he's the best.
- [commentator] Oh. - [commentator] Missed him again.
[Marnus] But whatever you throw at us, we'll find a way.
We've compartmentalized from the fact that Pat wasn't playing.
We knew what we had to do.
Hey!
[commentator] It's out! His first ever, Michael Neser with his first Test wicket.
Even the water boys were embracing him.
That's what you get when you get a Baggy Green.
We wanna win and that's built into Australian culture.
Certainly within this team, there's that will to wanna win everything.
[commentator] Marnus Labuschagne relishing the opportunity.
[Marnus] I think on skill alone and the experience mixed with youth,
mixed with leadership, coaching, everything,
I think we're a team that-- that shouldn't lose.
- Catch! - [commentator] A miss and taken.
Australia wins the Test match. They go up two nil in the Ashes.
[commentator] And five for Jhye Richardson,
his first in Test cricket.
That's a big win.
No Cummins and, uh, their replacement,
Steve Smith as captain, have delivered the goods for Australia.
[Gerard] Australia leaves Adelaide two-nil up,
heading to the iconic Tests of Boxing Day.
But what you could never have imagined
was just how immense those events would prove.
[commentator] Extraordinary! Build the man a statue!
[upbeat music playing]