Australia's record 214-run win over South Africa in Durban was celebrated from the Kingsmead dressing room to the Oyster Box Hotel, and much of it was filmed: The Test, the Amazon documentary series, has been revived for a fourth season that will follow the team through South Africa, India and England over the next 12 months. But two of the team's most experienced players, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head, say they still have not watched a single complete episode.
The celebrations after Australia's thrashing of South Africa stretched from the dressing room at Kingsmead to dinner at the Oyster Box Hotel overlooking the Umhlanga Lighthouse, then split into pockets along Chartwell Street's bar and dining strip. Gold Coast AFL captain Noah Anderson was a guest for the week and flew home on Wednesday.
The camera crew documenting a fourth season of The Test captured many of those moments. The series has been revived to follow Australia's overseas assignments in South Africa, India and England over the next 12 months.
Mitchell Starc and Travis Head, both veterans of three previous seasons, remain adamant that neither has watched a full episode, although both admit to glimpsing clips on social media. They agree that some players are inclined to ham it up for the crew led by Andre "Doc" Mauger.
"There's certainly guys that still enjoy playing up to the camera," Starc said. "The whole watching it thing, I don't need to watch. I'm not a great reflector anyway, but I don't feel the need to then go watch everything back after I've just been through a tour or lived it as well."
Starc said he did not watch much cricket generally and would not go back and watch tour life when he had just been on it, but he believed the series was good for cricket fans seeking insight into the players' characteristics, how they perform under pressure and what life is like on tour.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The revival means the Australian team's private moments will be recorded for a global audience throughout a demanding year of overseas tours.
- The mix of enthusiasm and wariness from senior players highlights a continuing negotiation between cricket's push for fan access and players' desire for privacy.
- The documentary could shape public perception of the team's culture over the next 12 months.
Background
The Test is a behind-the-scenes documentary series following the Australian men's cricket team. It has previously run for three seasons, and this new season extends the format to overseas series in South Africa, India and England. The Durban Test was the first assignment, and the crew accompanied the team through its post-match celebrations.
Key Perspectives
Players who embrace the cameras: Some players still enjoy playing up to the camera, according to Starc, suggesting the presence of the crew is welcomed by parts of the squad.
Mitchell Starc: He has not watched the series and said he does not need to relive tour life after living it, but he believes it offers genuine insight for cricket lovers.
Travis Head: Like Starc, Head says he has not watched a complete episode, though he acknowledges the unavoidable glimpses of clips on social media.
Skeptics of the format: The story's framing that the tour is "not all sunshine and roses" hints that the documentary may also capture tensions and difficult moments, not only celebrations.
What to Watch
- How the players' attitudes toward the cameras evolve as the tour moves from a celebratory win to more demanding assignments.
- The team's upcoming series in India and England, where scrutiny will be higher and the documentary will have richer material.
- Whether Starc and Head maintain their distance from the show as the season airs and its profile grows.