Ambivalence

I am ambivalent about the Pakistan loss to Australia. It was so inevitable - once the Australians took the lead by more than 100 it was just about all over. I think it true that the Pakistan team lost rather than the Aussies win - clearly though the Aussies had to be there to win it.

Why am I ambivalent? This success will delay changes that I think are necessary. Mike Hussey should be dropped. He was lucky to get to three figures - he has been slow all summer and the Pakistan wicket keeper has made a big contribution to the continuation of Hussey's career. Ricky Ponting should bat elsewhere while he is injured. Michael Clarke and Marcus North cant get too many more chances - surely? (Except of course Michael Clarke is from New South Wales - and he has got many runs on the board).

For me the shining light was Nathan Hauritz - he looks out of place but keeps hanging in there. Clearly he hasn't let it go to his head either!

I think that the result proved Ponting made the right decision to bat - but if we had been playing South Africa the calls for his head might have been deafening by now.

The next test could be a real fizzer - what a pity the Pakistan team didn't win to make Hobart the decider.

Of course, we all look forward to the 20 over and 50 over games - that anticipation makes the Hobart test seem a bit pointless! I look forward to some forward thinking experimentation from the Aussie team - perhaps they will wear a different brand of sunscreen?