{ "id": "eptxr5mfex", "slug": "the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team", "title": "The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "label": "Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans) · 2001 to 2020: Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "path": [ { "id": "geo.other", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans) · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team is a Prime Video sports docuseries following the Australian men's cricket team after the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, across three seasons (2020, 2023, 2024) directed by Adrian Brown.", "snippet": "The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team is a Prime Video sports docuseries following the Australian men's cricket team after the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, across three seasons (2020, 2023, 2024) directed by Adrian Brown.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "markdown": "# The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team\n\n**The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team** is an Australian sports docuseries on Prime Video that follows the Australian Men's Cricket Team from the fallout of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, known as [Sandpapergate](https://www.edgepedia.org/2018-australian-ball-tampering-scandal), through its efforts to rebuild its reputation, culture, and standing in world cricket.[1](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/) The first season premiered on March 12, 2020, and the series has since run for three seasons.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Subject | Behind-the-scenes access to the Australian Men's Cricket Team after the 2018 \"sandpaper scandal\"[1](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/) |\n| Platform | Prime Video, in Australia and more than 200 countries and territories[3](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2019/11/from-ashes-to-amazon-amazon-original-docuseries-about-australian-mens-cricket-team-coming-exclusively-to-prime-video) |\n| Season 1 | March 12, 2020; 8 episodes of about 60 minutes[1](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/) |\n| Season 2 | January 13, 2023; 4 episodes of 45 minutes[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-series-2-41007/) |\n| Season 3 | May 24, 2024; 3 episodes covering the 2023 tour of England[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s03) |\n| Director | Adrian Brown (seasons 1–3), with Sheldon Wynne co-directing seasons 2 and 3[1](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/) • [4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-series-2-41007/) |\n| Production companies | Cricket Australia Productions and Whooshka Media; Amazon MGM Studios joined from season 2[1](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/) • [4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-series-2-41007/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Season 1 (2020)\n\nThe eight-part first season covers roughly 18 months, from the [Cape Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/cape-town) fallout to the retention of the Ashes at the end of the 2019 English summer.[10](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/amazon-prime-video-australia-cricket-documentary-the-test-review-a9400106.html) Its episodes trace the home Test series against India led by [Virat Kohli](https://www.edgepedia.org/virat-kohli), limited-overs tours including the one-day series in India, the return of the banned Smith and Warner, the 2019 World Cup campaign in which Australia reached the semi-finals, and the Ashes series against England.[11](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3299039) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s01)\n\nThe access was unusual for cricket. Camera crews filmed inside dressing rooms and team meetings, spaces normally closed to outsiders, and the footage was drawn from thousands of hours shot by cinematographer Andre Mauger and broadcasters.[10](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/amazon-prime-video-australia-cricket-documentary-the-test-review-a9400106.html) • [12](https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/justin-langer-new-documentary-the-test-exposes-brutal-australian-cricket-truths-ng-b881485927z) Langer himself described watching the finished series as \"very confronting,\" saying \"that's actually what happens in the Australian dressing room.\"[12](https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/justin-langer-new-documentary-the-test-exposes-brutal-australian-cricket-truths-ng-b881485927z)\n\nThe season launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and became the most watched show on Amazon Prime Video Australia in March and April 2020.[13](https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/amazon-doco-cathartic-for-ca-after-sandpapergate) • [14](https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/aacta-org-assets/Uploads/Documentary-or-Factual-Program-Handbook.pdf) [Cricket Australia](https://www.edgepedia.org/cricket-australia)'s annual report states that no Australian sports documentary had appeared on Amazon Prime Video before it, and that world cricket had never seen a documentary like it.[15](https://read.e-brochures.com.au/cricketaustralia/annual-report-2019-2020/pdf.pdf)\n\n### Season 2 (2023)\n\nThe second season, reduced to four episodes of 45 minutes, covers the 2021–22 season under a new leadership group after the exits of captain [Tim Paine](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-paine), following a sexting scandal, and coach [Justin Langer](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-langer), who declined a six-month contract extension after leading the team to the T20 World Cup title and a 4–0 Ashes win at home.[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-series-2-41007/) • [16](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3319886) [Pat Cummins](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-cummins), appointed captain weeks before the 2021–22 Ashes, is the season's central figure as the team tours Pakistan, where the two sides met in Tests for the first time in 24 years, and Sri Lanka.[17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTtwryQZmko) • [18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s02)\n\nReviewers noted the season's continued access to players and the locker room, while some fans judged it closer to a highlights package than the first season's depth.[19](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/english/the-test/the-test-season-2/seasonreview/96853398.cms)\n\n### Season 3 (2024)\n\nThe third season, three episodes released together on May 24, 2024, follows Australia's 2023 tour of England: the World Test Championship Final against India at the Oval, which Australia won, and the Ashes series that followed.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s03) • [20](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/review/2024/May/25/the-test-season-3-series-review-a-gripping-account-of-australias-quest-for-the-ashes) The filming method stayed deliberately small: a single cameraman with hidden microphones, so that, in Cummins' words, \"we're never aware of the camera.\"[21](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/may/24/the-test-season-three-australia-england-tour-2023-prime-video) The season captures the Lord's Test stumping of [Jonny Bairstow](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonny-bairstow) and its aftermath, [Nathan Lyon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nathan-lyon) batting on a torn calf, and Mitch Marsh's 102-ball century at Headingley, the fastest by an Australian in England since Victor Trumper's 95-ball hundred in 1902.[21](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/may/24/the-test-season-three-australia-england-tour-2023-prime-video)\n\n## Background: the scandal the series opens with\n\nThe series begins from the 2018 ball-tampering incident at Newlands in Cape Town, in which Australian batter [Cameron Bancroft](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-bancroft) was caught on camera using sandpaper to rough up the ball during the third Test against South Africa.[6](https://ethics.org.au/renewing-the-culture-of-cricket/) Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain [David Warner](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-warner-cricketer), and Bancroft received bans, and coach [Darren Lehmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/darren-lehmann) resigned before the team left South Africa.[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/english/2020/Mar/20/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team-review-masterful-storytelling-of-an-unlikely-underdog-stor-17665.html) • [6](https://ethics.org.au/renewing-the-culture-of-cricket/) Six months afterward, a report from an ethics committee found that institutional arrogance within Cricket Australia had fostered conditions that allowed cheating to thrive.[8](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/ball-tampering-scandal-sandpapergate-australia-bancroft-smith-warner-b3063572.html)\n\nInto this vacuum came newly appointed coach Justin Langer and new Test captain Tim Paine, and the documentary follows the team from that starting point.[9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s01) Amazon announced the series in November 2019, promising Prime members access inside the team \"immediately following the 2018 ball tampering incident as they regroup, reflect and rebuild to retain the 2019 Ashes Urn on English soil for the first time in 18 years.\"[3](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2019/11/from-ashes-to-amazon-amazon-original-docuseries-about-australian-mens-cricket-team-coming-exclusively-to-prime-video)\n\n## Reception and criticism\n\nThe series drew a broadly positive critical response. Reviewers praised the unprecedented dressing-room access and the human side of the players; the Sydney Morning Herald's headline question, \"Doco or propaganda?\", captured the recurring objection that a documentary signed off by Cricket Australia functions partly as public relations for the governing body.[22](https://www.flicks.com.au/tv/the-test-season-1/) Wisden noted that the series was praised for showing a more human side to the Australian players while being criticized for its near-total avoidance of the ball-tampering scandal itself.[23](https://www.wisden.com/cricket-news/watching-the-test-documentary-motivates-me-to-train-again-root) The Independent observed that the series also showed how Cricket Australia's in-house content operation, built since 2013, made the dressing-room access possible, and noted that England's board turned down a similar offer for its own team.[10](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/amazon-prime-video-australia-cricket-documentary-the-test-review-a9400106.html)\n\nThe series holds an 8.8/10 rating on IMDb.[24](https://www.comparetv.com.au/streaming-tv/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team-show-live-stream-australia/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Test, The: A New Era for Australia's Team, Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-a-new-era-for-australias-team-38563/)\n2. [The Test, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test)\n3. [From Ashes to Amazon – Amazon Original Docuseries About Australian Men's Cricket Team Coming Exclusively to Prime Video, Amazon Press Center](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2019/11/from-ashes-to-amazon-amazon-original-docuseries-about-australian-mens-cricket-team-coming-exclusively-to-prime-video)\n4. [Test, The series 2, Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/test-the-series-2-41007/)\n5. [The Test: Season 3, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s03)\n6. [Renewing the culture of cricket, The Ethics Centre](https://ethics.org.au/renewing-the-culture-of-cricket/)\n7. [The Test: A New Era For Australia's Team Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/english/2020/Mar/20/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team-review-masterful-storytelling-of-an-unlikely-underdog-stor-17665.html)\n8. [Anatomy of a scandal: The story of sandpapergate, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/ball-tampering-scandal-sandpapergate-australia-bancroft-smith-warner-b3063572.html)\n9. [The Test: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s01)\n10. [The Test offers plenty even for those who hate the Australian cricket team, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/cricket/amazon-prime-video-australia-cricket-documentary-the-test-review-a9400106.html)\n11. [Details revealed for new doco on the Aussie Men's team, cricket.com.au](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3299039)\n12. [Justin Langer: New documentary The Test exposes brutal Australian cricket truths, The West Australian](https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/justin-langer-new-documentary-the-test-exposes-brutal-australian-cricket-truths-ng-b881485927z)\n13. [Amazon doco 'cathartic' for CA after Sandpapergate, AAP](https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/amazon-doco-cathartic-for-ca-after-sandpapergate)\n14. [2020 AACTA Awards, Documentary or Factual Program Handbook](https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/aacta-org-assets/Uploads/Documentary-or-Factual-Program-Handbook.pdf)\n15. [Cricket Australia Annual Report 2019–20, Broadcast Partners](https://read.e-brochures.com.au/cricketaustralia/annual-report-2019-2020/pdf.pdf)\n16. [Documentary reveals Aussie plans for 'Everest' India tour, cricket.com.au](https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3319886)\n17. [The Test Season Two | Official Trailer, Prime Video AU & NZ, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTtwryQZmko)\n18. [The Test: Season 2, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_test/s02)\n19. [The Test Season 2 Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/english/the-test/the-test-season-2/seasonreview/96853398.cms)\n20. [The Test Season 3 Series Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/review/2024/May/25/the-test-season-3-series-review-a-gripping-account-of-australias-quest-for-the-ashes)\n21. ['Never aware of the camera': raw reaction to Ashes drama laid bare in cricket doco, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/may/24/the-test-season-three-australia-england-tour-2023-prime-video)\n22. [The Test: Season 1 streaming page with press quotes, Flicks](https://www.flicks.com.au/tv/the-test-season-1/)\n23. [Watching The Test documentary motivates me to train again – Root, Wisden](https://www.wisden.com/cricket-news/watching-the-test-documentary-motivates-me-to-train-again-root)\n24. [The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team streaming guide, Compare TV](https://www.comparetv.com.au/streaming-tv/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team-show-live-stream-australia/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series › Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-test-a-new-era-for-australias-team. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team is a Prime Video sports docuseries following the Australian men's cricket team after the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, across three seasons directed by Adrian Brown." }