Captains Cummins and Aaron Finch are emphatic and intelligent men; both have reputations for playing the game with integrity and leading with servility, and that has strengthened so far during their tenures.

The news that CA is happy for players not to talk to Langer in his new gig as a Channel Seven commentator is somewhat fanciful, though. It is a masterstroke from Seven, obviously encouraged by a Langer supporter to supply a soapbox. No doubt that viewers would be excited by the Australian fast bowlers taking on the debate and questions from the ex-coach, who, if you recall, was slated for trying to set their fields from the sheds every over during last year’s Ashes series. It would make unmissable television and I hope to see those match-ups.

Channel Seven will be looking for any ratings boost as it continues its quest through the courts for a discount on its rights deal with CA.

Meanwhile, with the Langer saga dragging on and on, the Test series against the West Indies begins on Wednesday. The three-game ODI series against England, sandwiched in between the T20 World Cup and the first Test, will, henceforth, be the definitive meaningless series. The term has been run ragged in recent years in world cricket, but this one now gets its own Wikipedia entry.

Granted, Australia played some attractive, confident and winning cricket under the two leaders, but England’s level of motivation after the adrenaline-sucking World Cup campaign was questionable.

The Australian Test players missed the chance of Sheffield Shield or PM’s XI competition as they performed in front of scant houses. Perhaps the fans had spent their hard-earned on tickets to the T20 and are saving up for the Test summer. That would seem like a suitably frugal approach given the Reserve Bank’s incessant rate hikes.

Loading

Perhaps they’ve had enough of 50-over cricket, especially coming so quickly on the back of a fascinating multinational 20-over tournament?

The Windies may feel lucky that their premature ejection from the T20 World Cup has allowed them an unstudied build-up to the first Test. They looked competitive against the PM’s XI with some decent quicks and another Chanderpaul willing to occupy the crease for weeks. Nothing was meaningless for them at Manuka Oval against the pink ball and some Australians looking to impress national selectors.

It was nice to watch the pace of four-day cricket with biff and bash conceding to nous and discipline, and the thought of Test cricket will return meaning to life.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.