Amazon's "The Test"

[workhorse]

All 8 parts of Amazon Prime's "The Test" drop tonight at midnight.

Peter Lalor is currently discussing with Gerard Whately on SEN, sounds very, very interesting.

What are your thoughts/expectations etc.??

 

[corbies]

I'm not usually a fan of sports doco's as I don't really care what sportspeople are like off the field however I think this is going to be epic. It'll obviously have to be watched with a grain of salt as it'll be heavily biased but from the trailers it looks to be a truly unique insight into the inner workings of an international side.

 

[Tugga27]

I'm not usually a fan of sports doco's as I don't really care what sportspeople are like off the field however I think this is going to be epic. It'll obviously have to be watched with a grain of salt as it'll be heavily biased but from the trailers it looks to be a truly unique insight into the inner workings of an international side.

I'm not sure about watching it "with a grain of salt TBH" and with it being heavily biased.

Gideon Haigh has writtena good review on it today, and he's not easily please.
Here's an excerpt.

"Some viewers will approach The Test sceptically. How candid can an official project be? They should be prepared to be disarmed.

It is a positive portrait, as well it might be: the team played progressively better cricket over the period concerned.

The episodes themselves improve in quality, as the filmmakers seem to grow in confidence alongside their subjects.

It invites us, too, to reflect on the episode that preceded it. Sandpapergate looms out of view throughout — unspecified, unelaborated, as indescribable as the “VUE” (Violent Unknown Event) in Peter Greenaway’s mockumentary, The Falls.

Yet it originated in a dressing room very much like those in which The Test largely takes place, involving many of the same dramatis personae. It is hard to avoid thinking about what cameras might have captured that day had they been around; after all, Sandpapergate also involved normal blokes playing cricket."

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Can't wait for this tbh

 

[Caesar]

What are your thoughts/expectations etc.??

I find it impossible to trust a 'documentary' which was run as a coproduction between CA's marketing department and an advertising agency that specialises in sales integrated content.

Regardless of how high the production values are, or how 'raw and authentic' it ends up feeling, the whole project is hopelessly compromised propaganda. Gideon Haigh has gone way down in my estimation by endorsing it.

If you want to watch a good documentary on cricket, dig out Death Of A Gentleman.

 

[Tugga27]

I find it impossible to trust a 'documentary' which was run as a coproduction between CA's marketing department and an advertising agency that specialises in sales integrated content.

Regardless of how high the production values are, or how 'raw and authentic' it ends up feeling, the whole project is hopelessly compromised propaganda. Gideon Haigh has gone way down in my estimation by endorsing it.

If you want to watch a good documentary on cricket, dig out Death Of A Gentleman.

At least he's seen it before he critiqued it.

Yes, Death of a Gentleman was very good.

 

[Caesar]

At least he's seen it before he critiqued it.

I must confess, I also took some preconceptions into Triumph of the Will.

 

[Tugga27]

I must confess, I also took some preconceptions into Triumph of the Will.

Yep, because that's a fair comparison

 

[Cleavy]

If anyone has any links to a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid of this, a link would be much appreciated. Been looking everywhere for one

doesn't Amazon Prime have a 30 day free trial?

EDIT: whoever encoded this thinks I need 25 languages of subtitles

 

[Fat Nyfe]

doesn't Amazon Prime have a 30 day free trial?

EDIT: whoever encoded this thinks I need 25 languages of subtitles

It does, which is plenty of time to watch this then get rid of it because on first glance the content on here is pretty thin.

Off to a good start with episode 1. Looks meaty

 

[The King!]

Biggest takeaway as someone who becomes more casual as a cricket fan rather than a die hard as I get older is how much power the coach and the coaching group have, versus the skipper Compared to the past

and even how it’s still reported, like this is paines side, or pontinga side, Waugh etc

this is langers side now so far watching this

 

[corbies]

Biggest takeaway as someone who becomes more casual as a cricket fan rather than a die hard as I get older is how much power the coach and the coaching group have, versus the skipper Compared to the past

and even how it’s still reported, like this is paines side, or pontinga side, Waugh etc

this is langers side now so far watching this

My biggest take away from the 1st 2 eps is that there was a grand total of 1 effective tactic across the whole of the England ODI series and UAE test series and it was Khawaja reverse sweeping. A tactic he came up with by himself in spite of the coaches.

The coaches just spend so much time talking about nothing, it must be so exhausting. I understand the emotional talks make better TV than the tactical ones so we are more than likely missing those important aspects but they really seem to lose their meaning when it's just meeting after meeting about effort and "wanting it".

Saker actually raised a point about it not being a process thing in the England ODI series and it was moreso the skill was just lacking so much and no one seemed to take any notice and then Haddin started waffling on about them not wanting to be in the contest enough.

My other takeaway is my god SMarsh is absolutely jacked. I didn't realise how big he is.

 

[swingdog]

Saker actually raised a point about it not being a process thing in the England ODI series and it was moreso the skill was just lacking so much and no one seemed to take any notice and then Haddin started waffling on about them not wanting to be in the contest enough.

Yeah, that was noticeable about that ODI team in England. They just weren't very good.

Watching first episode - good quality.

 

[t_94]

I must confess, I also took some preconceptions into Triumph of the Will.

Stop trying so hard.

 

[Caesar]

Stop trying so hard.

Sorry, who are you?

 

[darcytiger]

You can tell that they’re marketing to the Indians as well. A lot of sucking up their arse how good the players are. Will be interesting if they talk about the English players as much later in the series.

 

[darcytiger]

I’m also dirty that in episode 5 we’re still on one dayers in Australia. Doesn’t leave a whole lot of episodes for a whole World Cup and an ashes series.

 

[Cainozz]

Just finished watching all 8 episodes and have to say the last 2 are easily the best ones. The tales and drama that test cricket brings is incomparable to a 5 game ODI series. The raw emotion after that Headingley loss and the way the team held themselves together afterwards was first class. I know Paine gets a lot of hate because of a few costly mistakes but people don't realise he had only played a handful of tests before he was thrusted into the captaincy. He was doing a lot of learning himself yet held himself together as a leader. Langer seemed to really mellow in 2019 compared to the first half of the documentary when he seemed to be highly strung. Also, the tactics that were used on the Ashes tour and the horses for courses approach is definitely something we need to replicate coming back when we have a better team to finally win the series over there.

Other notes - Mitch Marsh is a great team man, Finchy is a bloke you wouldn't mind giving a cuddle, Smithy is an absolute freak and Marnus is such a cricket nuffy. Overall, loved it.

 

[omarlittle1]

I'm loving this series. Fly on the wall stuff form elite sports teams are endlessly fascinating.

 

[Seedsfan]

It was great viewing. Wish the had a bit more time for each of the Ashes tests

 

[eddiesmith]

Seeing the ads I assumed it was just about the Ashes so was glad when I realised it covered a lot longer. Watched first two episodes so far and it’s not bad.

 

[MadEyeEmmy]

Adam Zampa gives me the irrits. So does Stoin.

Have a newfound desire to cuddle Aaron Finch and Tim Paine.

 

[Belnakor]

Adam Zampa gives me the irrits. So does Stoin.

Have a newfound desire to cuddle Aaron Finch and Tim Paine.

Weird. I found that Tim Paine came across a bit unlikable where last zampa and Stoinis just came across as boneheads you’d love to get a beer with.

 

[MadEyeEmmy]

Weird. I found that Tim Paine came across a bit unlikable where last zampa and Stoinis just came across as boneheads you’d love to get a beer with.

Yeah I can see what you’re saying about Paine but I found he came across as a decent person with a reasonable amount of humility. I have a fair bit to do with grade cricket and Stoinis and Zampa just remind me of a lot of those blokes. Hipsters trying to be “rare” at all costs but really just standard jocks.

 

[t_94]

Am i the only one that thinks Langer and the coaching staff in general dont add much value going off the documentary so far (first 3 eps). Just speak in clichés really. Certainly given weight to Chappelli's classic 'coach drives the bus to the game' line.