Australia’s cricketers reveal their true selves on season two of The Test

“I think it’s cool that we’re able to put this together and show people a different side of us as human beings,” Steve Smith tells CODE Sports.

“We didn’t see it as much in the first doco. It delves into our lives a lot more this series away from cricket. It shows our personal sides and I think the fans will enjoy it.”

There’s Marnus Labuschagne’s perspective on his religion and the sticker of an eagle he puts on his bat, which has brought him unprecedented levels of luck at the crease, according to his teammates.

Steve Smith and Cam Green, both at very different stages of their international careers, share the work they’ve done with sports psychologists to stay at the top of their game.

Last summer’s cult hero Scott Boland travels to the Northern Territory as he talks about his journey learning about his Indigenous background.

Like the popular first series, the cameras are always rolling. Things rarely get heated when results are going their way, but watching things unravel during last year’s second Test against Sri Lanka is as passionate as things get.

Bats are thrown, doors are slammed and expletives are constant as the Aussies slumped to a record defeat. It’s the footage that reality TV craves, but the players hope it’s just part of that added understanding that they are humans just trying to be the best they can be.

“There’s no doubt that more things will come out of it,” says Travis Head, one of the culprits in the Galle dressing room.

“We have to take the good with the bad. If there’s bad stuff there’s going to be great stuff. It’s raw, it’s natural, and it is what it is at the time.

“Everyone’s being themselves and if there are moments that come out that people don’t like in particular there so be it.”

Fans viewing the series will see more pieces added to the puzzle of the major talking points over the past 12 months. And while it lacks a lot of the gritty detail, and bin-kicking, of the first season, it reflects the fact that this is now Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald’s team and they are doing things their way.

Surprisingly, the fallout from former coach Justin Langer’s resignation is only covered for five minutes in the episode.

The players come first, even if they don’t all agree with Labuschagne’s preference of putting a hot, toasted cheese sandwich straight into the fridge.

“When you’re involved in one episode, you’re like, ‘Just be normal for once in your life, seriously’,” Labuschagne says.

In a way, the second season gives rise to the idea that Labuschagne is the main character of this team. His quirks are balanced with his talent, and his personality is matched by the embarrassment of his teammates.

The series started with his Test debut against Pakistan in the U.A.E in 2018, and it’s likely to continue to the point he stops presenting them with content to film.

“We’re going to finish up the series when Marnus finishes,” says co-director Sheldon Wynne.

As a new father, Labuschagne is grateful for something tangible he can show daughter Hallie about his rise to becoming the world’s No.1 Test batter and all the little idiosyncrasies in between.

“It’s quite special when you look back on it because you have a pretty cool record of your journey,” he says.

“It’s one of those things that it’s special if my daughter can look back … hopefully there’s a time she gets an understanding of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.

“I think the documentary is going to be a great way for her to find out how my journey started and how it’s going.”

Season 2 of The Test is streaming from Friday 13th of January on Amazon Prime.