So now the test series is done and dusted, I've been thinking about why this was such a failure:
Under-preparedness
As it's been pointed out, we've come from average pitches vs England who didn't exactly bring their A game, straight into a pink ball test without a warm up or much of a rest for the players. I don't think I advocated for Ferguson to play that 2nd England test but in hindsight he should have. Say he got injured then, it would've been better than getting injured in Aus (not that anyone wants players getting injured, obviously). Getting through 30-40 match overs vs England meant he might've not gone down in a few overs vs Aus.
The one 'tour match' we did get was basically a farce as well. One wonders if the deal from CA was "you get a boxing day test, the SCG, but you have **** all time to prepare. Take it or leave it." and NZC was like "yes suh we will be good suh whatever you say suh." A proper 4 day pink ball FC match before the first test and another 4 day FC match before the MCG would've been great, but in this day and age, I don't think that's ever going to be a 'thing' again unless you're England.
Another culprit is NZ pitches and domestic comp. 6 games a season split by LO stuff. I know what the money maker is but they play such mid-level quality cricket, it makes mediocre players look great and good players look amazing. i'm surprised Blundell did as well as he did, tbh, ditto Phillips. Thought they'd get eaten alive. But beyond them, we;ve got basically Will Young, Seifert (maybe) and Devon Conway in, what, a years time?
Player fitness and squad mismanagement
See Lockie above. Was Boult 100% coming into Melbourne? Should he have played even though all evidence this has pointed to him being a bit undercooked this summer? Didn't look himself vs England before going down injured. Rotation is not something top level sides like to do but in Boult's case you've got to wonder if he should be playing less limited overs stuff or sit out some of the 'lesser' Test series in an effort to regain strength. It always seems like he's rushed back before being 100%, is never allowed to fully recover, goes down again, rinse, repeat. Southee has been generally pretty excellent in Tests in the last couple of years and you wonder if part of that is that he's not in the ODI setup anymore. Should look at making players, bowlers in particular, 2 format players only - no 3 across all formats.
The 2 series 1 squad idea was ridiculous. Whoever decided that should be fired. We ended up calling in 3 players outside the squad and recalling a dropped guy. There should be a backup for each playing role - opener, mid order bat, wicketkeeper, spin bowler, 2 x seam bowlers + another wildcard spare.
Overall, the whole team looked down a level or two. Fielding was average at best. No real buzz in the field. Australia looked like they were constantly having fun with bat and ball. We looked like people turning up to a job we didn't like to make money for a boss we hate.
Too much rope
I was a fairly big Henry in tests supporter but yeah, the guys cooked. Unless he magically reinvents himself as an old hand who can be Wagner-esque in a couple of years, he shouldn't be the reserve seamer unless 4 other blokes get injured. Dire. Santner's century and quick 3fer gave him too much credit, needed to be dumped after Perth. The harsh call would've been to dump him before Perth, but that is slightly unfair on someone who did actually make the most of lucky chances in that one good test. Goodbye from the test team for a few years please, we don't need your batting. Go be Jimmy Neesham and re-learn loving the game because you seem to be like was around the time he was dropped. Riding on previous exploits and not turning up. Please replace with a specialist spinner, preferably Ajaz or Astle.
Raval. Loved the guy but was clearly shot. Bizarrely did well at 3 for that brief period though, but not enough to keep him around. We need to organise replacement opener + a viable reserve asap. Blundell has heart and grit but probably not suited long term - might be a good Watling. Do the job for a bit until the WK position opens up.
Dare I say it, but more critical appraisal of Nicholls was needed. He looked village, like when he first came on the scene. It's odd because I thought this is the kind of situation where he'd thrive - play some gritty cricket and make more of a name for himself in Aus, but he was just an empty batting spot. His position should no longer be considered unquestionable. If Blundell doesn't open, he should get a shot at 5 if Nicholls doesn't perform vs India.
Captaincy
Love captain Kane, but Latham didn't do any worse with the lesser resources he had than Kane. Sounds harsh, but he shouldn't be captaining Tests and ODIs. England and Aus have different captains for those formats and it's working fairly well - for England in ODIs at least. I would actually go as far to say, give Latham captaincy in both formats and just let Kane concentrate on batting.
Insular, and coaching
Coney pointed this out - NZ just keep to themselves. They should be consulting on conditions, bringing in the enemy on temporary contracts and get hungry for information. They seem to have a one size fits all approach to playing everyone - Boult and Southee will swing or seam out the top order, then Wagner does the rest. Except Boult is rusty af and Southee hasn't really got the pace nor the accuracy. He's been doing well in Tests but I think if he wants a longer career he basically has to become Hadlee MkII and hit a dime 6 balls an over, rather than the club cricket 2 swinging balls and 1 scrambled seam 'surprise ball' that hasn't been a surprise for about 5 or 6 years now. So often the bowlers would go 2 balls outside off then put one on the apds, too far down leg. Embarrassing. Each test it was the same plan that really only worked well for Wags, an by the third test he was tired and the Aussies had started to combat it fairly well.
The batsmen came up against an excellent bowling attack but you'd expect that with each test we'd improve as we'd learn the conditions, learn the bowling tactics. But no. What is going on there? Bad batting coaching? Liem Coney said, do some work in Aus, play with locals, get close to the conditions as possible, bring in an Aussie great (imagine Ponting as batting coach?!). The setup is fairly, somewhat admirably, home grown, but you can't help but feel some of our best bowling performances came when we had Donald around. And for that matter, where's Bondy? No faith if Fulton whatsoever. Wasn't keen on McMillan to begin with, but if this series is anything to guy by, Fulton is training the batsmen to bat like Peter Fulton.
Australia's perfect storm
Don't think many sides would've fared too well against this attack and Labuschagne in supreme form. That said, Pakistan at least managed to break 300. All bowlers averaged under 23 and 4 batsman averaged above 40 with one at 38. They had an excellent series - but a top class team in top form would've at least matched them in some departments.
