Chalks

30 wickets at 12.83 in four tests in a side that has been clear second best (excluding Perth). Should easily be player of the series, but they’ll probably give it to T. F*** Head or golden boy Cummins.

They shoehorned McSweeney into opening as they did with Aaron Finch six years ago. Although Finch was an opener in the white ball formats, he was a middle-order bat in First Class Cricket (Sheffield Shield, County, etc.) like Sweeney. I'd like to think Sweeney could still have been slotted into #6, especially as they're getting virtually nothing out of Mitch Marsh with either bat or ball. (Even though anyone at #6 is only really a placeholder till Cam Green regains full fitness.)

Nah it's better to retire on top (relatively speaking) when you feel you still have something to give than carry on past your use by date. Too many examples of the latter type in the past and present.

Even when the BazBallers are collapsing in a heap, they're entertaining. Nothing at all like the boring as batshyte Aussies (T. Head aside).

Brazilian football/soccer has the "Maracanazo" (the shock 2-1 loss to Uruguay in 1950 WC "Final") and the "Mineirazo (the 7-1 drubbing by Germany in 2014 WC SF). Nov 19 2023 was Indian cricket's "Moterazo".

Many here may not be old enough to rememeber the Richard Hadlee 33 wickets series in Australia in 1985/86 (NZ won 2-1 against an Australian side depleted by South Africa rebel tour defections). This success surpasses that series by far.