A daunting summer awaits,and Australia’s shock defeat in Brisbane has exposed several areas - good and bad - to address. So what did we learn from the Gabba shock?
Steve Smith and Cameron Green are perfectly placed to take Australia to victory against the West Indies and a summer clean sweep.
Steve Smith’s lbw dismissal to Kemar Roach was the kind of moment to give any cricketer cause to think about their future.
Pat Cummins made his highest score to rebalance the second Test after Steve Smith’s voluntary move to the top of the order led a dreadful batting collapse.
Steve Smith says he agrees with his Test captain that a more inclusive date should be chosen for the national celebration. Meanwhile,COVID-hit Andrew McDonald and Cameron Green will still take part in the second Test.
A comfortable victory for the hosts at Adelaide Oval was always expected,but there were winners and losers within the team.
Shamar Joseph conquered Steve Smith on his first day as a Test cricketer;he conquered greater odds to be here at all,emerging from a village which did not have a phone network or internet access before 2018.
Steve Smith fell for 12 in his first examination at the top of the order as an unknown West Indies quick made a name for himself on debut with an inspired spell.
Opening the batting is purely a mindset – and Steve Smith has made all the right comments about his new role in the Australian team.
Brian Lara,Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara all brought up 10,000 runs in their 195th Test innings. Smith has seven up his sleeve to create history.
Steve Smith says the world’s quickest bowlers will have to risk wasting their new ball if they want to pummel him with short-pitched bowling now that he’s an opening batsman.