The Changing of the Guard

Aaron Finch is struggling. It's the World Cup semi-final, and he's languishing on just 19 from 34 deliveries, batting well below his belligerent best. The ball is not hitting the middle of the bat, which feels like a toothpick in his hands. All he can do is dig in, and get down to the other end, to relative safety. But singles have been hard to come by...

The wily Mohit Sharma, one of India's best bowlers of the tournament, is bowling the 13th over. He delivers a well-pitched slower ball, the off-cutter. Finch defends, solidly, out into covers. He immediately calls "yes!", and takes off for the run. The athletic Indian fielders, sensing the nervousness of the Victorian, swoop like hungry raptors ready for the kill...

At the other end, Steven Smith could be forgiven for having a momentary lapse in concentration. After all, the 26-year old New South Welshman is playing in a World Cup semi-final at his home ground, the SCG; his second-last match of a cricketing summer that started way back in November 2014 (it is now the end of March 2015). In that time, he has lost one of his closest friends, Phillip Hughes, to a horrible accident, scored well in excess of 750 test match runs at an average of 128, while also captaining Australia in three tests. He's also aquired nearly 900 ODI runs in just 17 matches during this time. Not to mention winning the Allan Border Medal, Australian test cricketer of the year, and Australian ODI cricketer of the year along the way...

Instead, he is awake, as alert as ever, as mentally tough and together as they come. He bellows out "NO!", a commanding, piercing call. A call that oozes calmness and confidence, that no man would disobey. A call of a captain. Aaron Finch stops in his tracks, turns, and makes it back to the crease, as the Indian fielders rush in from all directions, hopeful for the run out. But it doesn't come. Finch and Smith go on to form a 182-run partnership. Australia win the match by 95 runs. Three days later, Australia win the World Cup.

And Steve Smith is there, in the final, to hit the winning runs. Michael Clarke, in his last ODI for Australia, had made a fluent 74, and put on 112 match World Cup winning-runs with Smith. But the time had come to pass the mantle on. Almost as if the script was written, Clarke chopped-on with just nine more needed. He hands the wheel to Steve Smith, his heir-apparent. Get comfortable, young man. This is what it feels like to sit on the throne. Enjoy it.

If any man deserves to hit the World Cup winning-runs, it's Steve Smith. From the darkest days of modern-Australian cricket back in 2013, to proving everyone wrong in the 18 months since, Steve Smith has, with his ungainly style and fidgety nature,  inspired not only a nation of cricket followers to believe, but his own teammates as well. While Smith has been in the side, Australian cricket has gone from the depths and despair of the Homeworkgate incident in India, finishing last in their group in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, and loosing the Ashes 0-3 in the same year, to the highs of winning against the highly fancied South Africans in their own backyard, and smashing England 5-0 in the corresponding Ashes series. He's seen it all, while all the while maintaining his supreme form in the middle order, often looking like he's been playing for Australia all his life.

So it seems only fitting that the changing of the guard took place in the middle of the MCG on Sunday night. The old gave way to new. As Michael Clarke left with a tear in his eye, Steve Smith looked every bit a leader as he flicked the ball off his hip for the winning runs. It could just have easily been Allan Border, Stephen Waugh or Ricky Ponting out there, calmly guiding Australia to yet another World Cup victory. Of course, Smith has dabbled in captaincy at the highest level, leading the Australian test team in three matches in the summer gone. He was successful, albeit conservative, not wanting to undo all the hard work of Michael Clarke before him. The calmness of his leadership was immediately evident, and it's only a matter of time until the flair and flamboyancy of his batting shines through in his captaincy.

As the changing of the guard takes place, as Australian cricket transitions into the next chapter, and with the world of cricket constantly evolving at a rapid rate of knots, Steve Smith will be there, in the thick of it all. And if Australia is to continue its assertive, winning ways, Smith will be the one leading the charge, flamboyant, inspiring, alert, and as mentally together as they come.

Southwest WA "Forrest Creek" Biotope

Those who know me know that I live and breath fish. I could spend hours just reading about them, or mucking around with my aquariums, or studying them in the wild and exploring their natural habitat. The latter is probably why I'm fascinated by the idea of biotope aquaria, and what gave me the idea to set up this little fish tank.

My take on a southwest Western Australia forrest creek biotope

I really thought my 200 litre Amazonian aquarium would be enough to satisfy my fishy addiction. It turns out it wasn't. In fairness, this latest tank is basically a puddle at 60cm x 30cm x 30 cm (45 litres), so I figured it doesn't really count. Besides, this was going to be a highly educational project! My aim was to replicate a section of a forrest creek that I might find in my native southwest Western Australia, while stocking fish that are endemic to the region, and most importantly, of course,  to do it on a budget!

The spectacular southwest, on which this biotope is based

The tank

When choosing a fish tank, I would usually go for the biggest affordable (large tanks mean more consistent water quality, and lower maintenance). However, as I have previously learned, big tanks are harder to aquascape, much more expensive, and aren't always appropriate for biotopes such as this one. So, when I spotted a secondhand 45 litre tank (including stand) on Gumtree for just $100, I knew this was just the tank for me. For the type of fish I was planning to stock, anything larger seemed unnecessary, and I couldn't pass up such a bargain!


The hardscape

Many creeks in the southwest of WA are found trickling through areas of dense Jarrah and Marri forrest, and so the habitat I wanted to represent would feature a sandy bottom, lots of sunken woody debris, and leaf litter. I planned to have the water be slightly stained with tannins and lit dimly, with lots of dark, shady areas.

To start off, I collected some branchy driftwood from local creeks and wetlands. I was careful to soak and clean each piece thoroughly to get rid of any nasties (dirt, bacteria, parasites etc.), and I played around with the position of the wood until I was happy (a long and drawn out process for a perfectionist like myself!).

For the substrate, I used an undulating layer of Richgro playsand (washed thoroughly), on top of which sits a detritus layer of small twigs and Indian almond leaves (available from all good aquarium retailers). To add to the authenticity of the biotope, I cut the leaves into thin, crescent-shaped pieces, imitating eucalyptus leaves, which you will find littering the bed of pretty much any Australian creek (real eucalyptus leaves release oils and toxins, which can be leathal to fish).

"Eucalyptus" leaves add authenticity to the biotope.

The plants


Naturally, the growth of aquatic plants is limited in southwest forrest creeks, as little sunlight penetrates the tall canopy. Instead, emergent and riparian sedges and rushes, such as those from the Junkus genus, dominate. In the end, considering I wanted to the tank to be dim and shady, I decided against the use of native live plants, such as Vallisneria, Azolla and Potamogeton. Instead I opted for a couple of sedge-like silk 'plants', which I used to represent flooded riparian vegetation.


The hardware


Since this was a very simple setup, only the most basic of hardware was required to get the biotope up and running. For filtration, I decided to go with the Fluval Aquaclear 20, rated for around 76 litres/20 US gallons. Fortunately, the temperate climate of the southwest means the tank doesn't need a heater, which is a big money-saving bonus. I also didn't need bother with high tech lighting, in fact, for the dim effect I wanted for the tank, all I needed was a simple 3.5 watt LED strip (found on Ebay), which just clips on to the side of the glass. Too easy!

The fish

A wild pygmy perch displaying breeding colours

Five species of minnow, four species of perch, one catfish species (freshwater cobbler) and the fascinating salamander fish, Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, inhabit the creeks and wetlands of the southwest. However, only one species, the western pygmy perch, Nannoperca vittata, is really appropriate for this particular setup, given the tank's small size.

Found in a range of habitats across the southwest, from sluggish swamps and wetlands to clear, flowing creeks, western pygmy perch reside in the shallows, usually amongst aquatic vegetation, feeding mainly on invertebrates from the creekbed.

Western pygmy perch are a perfect fit for aquarium life, being small (max. length: 8 cm), hardy and easily obtainable from local pond and aquarium retailers. They wont cost a small mortgage either at around $4 - 6 each. The perch exhibit an attractive mottled silver-grey colouration, while males display an enigmatic red-orange stripe on each flank when in breeding season. In the wild, pygmy perch can tolerate a temperature rage between 0 - 30 degrees C, and therefore don't require a heated aquarium. In fact, they make an ideal alternative for goldfish in a coldwater tank.

Playful pygmy perch

There isn't much information available for the behavioural characteristics of pygmy perch in the aquarium, however in my observations I've found them to be very active, inquisitive, and highly adaptable to aquarium life. The three currently residing in this tank are constantly picking at the decor for microscopic bits and pieces, and they feed eagerly on the flake and frozen bloodworms that I offer.

Future thoughts


Eventually, I would like to add some glass shrimp, Paratya australiensis, which are found across the temperate climes of southern Australia, including the southwest of WA. Shrimp are fascinating to watch, while also being excellent tank 'cleaners', combing the surface of glass, wood and substrate, picking up leftover food, algae and other microscopic organisms. The perfect foil for the humble pygmy perch.

Overall, I'm really happy with the way the tank has turned out. In terms of size, the little 45 litre/10 gallon is perfect for this biotope and it's inhabitants, and I'm really pleased with the natural(ish) look of the hardscape. Best of all, I managed to do it on a pretty small budget. My favourite thing about this setup is that puts on display some of our amazing native fish, while each day I get to lose myself in a little slice of the beautiful Southwest from the comfort of my own home. 

Thanks for reading!

Step-by-step

A blank canvas: The second hand 10 gallon, cleaned and in position

A small selection of river pebbles were added first to help add some height to the substrate

The Richgro playsand was washed thoroughly before being added, and smoothed over. Building up the sand towards the back and sides of the tank adds depth to the layout

I played around with the positioning of the locally collected wood until I was happy with the layout (or so I thought!). The wood was cleaned and soaked thoroughly prior to use. The tank was then filled, and the filter left running for a week or so to stabilise the system

After installing the new Aquaclear 20 filter and LED lighting, and more rearranging  of the wood, I was finally satisfied with the hardscape. Silk plants and leaf litter were then added to finish of the flooded forrest creek look. Mature filter media was transplanted into the new filter to create an instant cycle, and the pygmy perch were carefully acclimatised. Biotope complete!

What did it cost?

- Tank & stand (Second hand; Gumtree): $100
- Fluval Aquaclear 20 filter (aquariumproducts.com.au): $45
- 3.5 watt LED clip-on light (Ebay): $23
- Silk plants (Ebay): $20
- Richgro Playsand (Bunnings): $8 for 20kg (I only used about a third of that)
- Indian almond leaves (Vebas Aquariums): $10 for a bag of 25 large leaves
- Wood: Free, from local creeks and wetlands
- Pygmy perch (Woodvale Fish and Lilly farm): $18 ($6 each)

Total: $224

Amazonian Biotope, Slowly but Surely

Question: What do you get when you combine moving a 200L fully stocked fish tank, a curious Burmese cat who decides he wants to swim in a bucket full of fish, and an exploding power board which nearly sets fire to the whole house? A very long, soggy and stressful Saturday afternoon!

Yes, one of the few downfalls being a young fishkeeper is that when you decide to move out of home, you have to take the whole thing with you. The reward: getting to set up the tank as a main feature in our new home, instead of hiding it away in my room for none but me to enjoy. 

It's been a long while since I last gave an update on my aquarium hobby. As you might imagine, many things have changed since then, which is a good thing, as I'm slowly but surely turning my tank into the slice of the Amazon that I always dreamed of.

I always liked the idea of a biotope themed aquarium, one that attempts to recreate as best possible the "natural" conditions of a river/lake/waterhole of a certain part of the world. This usually means keeping fish that would probably co-inhabit the same rivers, creeks and pools in the wild. Then, depending on how accurate you wish to get, you can also use plants from the same region, along with similar substrate, decor and even water chemistry. It's a cool little side project, and I think it can also cause the fish to behave and interact more natually.

Paradise, anyone? This is the kind of rainforest pool I was trying to emulate in  aquarium form.

Anyway, from the moment I knew I was getting a new tank in late 2012, I had my heart set on an Amazon River biotope. When I first dreamed up the tank, I pictured a gloomy, overgrown section of rainforest with a small, sandy backwater, featuring over-hanging branches and strewn with leaf litter. Like a new relationship yet to blossom, told myself to take it slow... but, as is my character,  I got way too excited, and numerous impulse buys later I found myself with almost the exact opposite of what I wanted: plain brown gravel as substrate, an overgrown mess of plants from all parts of the world, and one big fat piece of wood sitting smack bang in the middle of the tank.

Before: an overgrown, tangled mess.

Fortunately, with a little bit more patience and a long time to mull over my original layout, the tank is now looking far more like the one I dreamed of 18 months ago. 

The best change I made was getting rid of the brown gravel substrate, and changing to sand. I love the sand, I don't know why I didn't swap to it sooner! I guess I was frightened of the unknown, having only used gravel in aquariums in the past. As it turns out, sand is cheap (Richgro play sand - $8 a bag from Bunnings), easy to clean, far more natural looking for my biotope, and most importantly, the fish and plants seem to really enjoy it. The hoplo catfish especially love foraging and playing around in the softer substrate, and the amazon sword plants are growing out nicely.

After: Sand substrate, gold vine, and some serious weeding; the tank is now looking something like how I imagined it to be.

Secondly, I ripped up all of the Vallisneria plants (the tall reedy weeds), which were going nuts and taking over the whole tank, making it look like an absolute mess. I hate mess. I bought them as a "beginner" plant because they are so easy to grow, and I just assumed that I would fail at growing any other plants. As luck would have it, I managed to grow all of the other species of plant successfully, and "Vallis" is nowhere near native to the Amazon River. They simply had to go.

The third change I made was to the hardscape, which was lacking a certain naturalness to it. Eventually, I found that City Farmers sold gold vine, the kind of branchy looking wood which I always planned on using. It's kind of tangled looking and almost resembles mangrove roots. So, instead of the big hunk of driftwood I had sitting at the bottom (I impulse bought the biggest piece I could find in Pet Magic for some reason), I now have two lovely pieces of gold vine hanging from the top, imitating some overgrown branches hanging down into the rainforest creek - or something to that effect.

New addition: a beautiful male gold marble

Unfortunately, I lost two small angelfish midway through last year, when my girlfriend and I went on five and a half week holiday to the USA. The losses proved to me the importance of good water quality and consistent water changes; the fish were healthy when I left, and were well fed while I was away, but even in the most heavily planted aquariums, ammonia and nitrate build-up can definitely take a heavy toll on the health of your fish. Moral of the story: do your water changes! I change approximately 25% of the water in my tanks every fortnight, which is far below what many people in aquarium circles would recommend (25-50% once or twice a week). However, with the current water shortages in Australia and my responsibility as a so called "enviro", I think my regime is appropriate, and it still seems to keep the fish healthy. Fortunately, I managed to replace my lost angels with two more, which I bought off a lady who was moving house and couldn't keep them. At time of purchase they were huge - the fattest I have ever seen - but since then they have lost a bit of weight, and now look much healthier. 

It's so nice to be able to sit here on our comfy couch, and watch my fish as I laze around in the living room of our lovely new place. Even though I know my Amazon biotope is far from perfect, our guests seem to really enjoy watching the goings on in the tank, and more importantly talking about the fish. Although moving the thing was a marathon effort, the reward of being able to set it up as a centrepiece in our loungeroom, and the interest it sparks in the aquarium hobby far outweighs the stress and the strain of that Saturday afternoon.

Tank specs: 200L Amazon River biotope

Equipment: 

- 2 x AquaOne Heaters (1  x 200w, 1 x 150w)

- 1 x Eheim 2213 Canister Filter

- 1 x AquaOne internal power filter

- 2 x 30 watt fluorescent tubes

Plants:

- Amazon sword (Echinodorus amazonicus, Echinodorus tenellus)

- Crypts (Cryptocoryne spp.)

- Java fern (Microsorum pteropus)

Fish: 

- Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

- Pristella (X-ray) tetra (Pristella maxillaris)

- Glass bloodfin tetra (Prionobrama filigera)

- Hoplo catfish (Hoplosternum thoracatum)

- Bristlenose plec. (Ancistrus sp.)

- Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) 

The Night that Lasts a Thousand Years

The setting sun, it goes away, and shadows pave the way.

The darkness creeps in, it surrounds you, it laughs.

And the night will seem to last a thousand years. 

But a new day will grace the earth, soon enough. Soon enough.

All you have to do is remind yourself that the warmth will return tomorrow. 

A new day will come tomorrow.

Steve Smith, the Wrong Prover

Poor old Smithers. Mistreated, misunderstood, and desperately in love with his boss, Mr. Burns. Stuck in a dead end job with no way to move up in the world. It's no wonder he's turned to collecting Malibu Stacey dolls in attempt to eek something out of his most unsatisfactory life. Although I can't exactly say that I know all that much about Steven Smith's personal issues, hobbies and sexual orientation, I can definitely say that, unlike his dopelganger and nickname-sake Waylon Smithers, he is definitely moving up in the world when it comes to his chosen profession.

One of Steven Smith's early nicknames was "Waylon" after the Simpsons character. Hmmm.

Yes, by some miracle, Steve Smith has managed to get his unorthodox, ungainly, sometimes just downright ridiculous technique to work at test level. After making a fighting 92 against a skillful Indian spin attack in Mohali back in March, he followed it up in the most recent Ashes series with some handy fifties in Nottingham and Manchester, capping it all off with his maiden test century in tough batting conditions at The Oval. He fidgets at least 10 - 15 times before every delivery; with his pads, his gloves, his helmet, his box, then his pads again, and then he makes each of his shots look like singular giant fidgets. And yet in recent times he has proven to be as valuable to the stuttering Australian batting lineup as any.

When I first saw Steve Smith, probably back in 2009, I touted him as the next big thing (as did many others at the time), mainly for his legspin bowling. I was even telling my mates that he would be our next Shane Warne. Of course, they all laughed at me, and told me what they really thought of Smith's bowling (pretty average). Next thing we knew, he was into the test side for the series against Pakistan in the winter of 2010, picked as Australia's premier spinner. And the following summer he played in the Ashes as some kind of floating allrounder. His legspin was a bit of a flop, and his batting was comprehensively found out by the bowling quality at test level. Not for the first time, I was proven wrong. I copped the stick I deserved from my mates. Consequently, Smith was dumped, and his development handled extremely poorly by Cricket Australia (surprise, surprise). He fell into the cricketing void that is the limited-overs specialist. So much for the next Warnie!

So over the next few years, I didn't hear much of the man that I had declared the next cricketing messiah. His bowling declined as the ever-slogging batsman of the T20 world started taking spin bowlers apart. I saw him pull off a few flashy feats in domestic cricket and the IPL (including the best piece of fielding in cricketing history, see video below). He even captained the Pune Warriors India in a few matches, putting on display his potential leadership qualities. But that was all. I definitely thought we had seen the last of Steven Smith, at test level at least.

 

However, in the last season or two, Steve Smith started making hundreds. First for New South Wales, and then for Australia A. Suddenly, he was in the fray for Australian selection again. In March, Smith was handed a lucky break in Mohali after the fateful "homework" incident. I very much doubted the selection, and once again, I was proven wrong. This time not by my mates, but by Steve Smith himself. He displayed maturity and poise, such that I had not seen from him before. He certainly showed that he is the best player of spin in Australian cricket, behind only Michael Clarke (though it may yet be seen that he is even better than Clarke). I love watching both players play spin; particularly notable is the use of their feet in both attack and defense (I could very easily go on a large tangent about playing spin bowling, but I'll save you all the trouble... for now). 

The next twist in the Smith saga came when he was not selected for the 2013 tour of England, despite his obvious gains in ability and maturity. Questions were again asked of his ungainly style of batting, especially against the swinging ball in English conditions. And then, thanks to a mixture of good fortune and great form for Australia A, he found himself playing in the first Ashes test in Manchester. Before the series, he was criticized for his technique and temperament, and once more, he proved the critics wrong. It was such a relief to see that, finally, a young player had gone back to domestic level, had a long hard look at his technique, and worked perilously hard on improving it. He also showed that, although a good technique is quite handy at test level, what really matters is what's upstairs - and Steve Smith is one seriously mentally tough character - which is why he often out-performs his fellow young counterparts in Warner, Cowan, Hughes and Khawaja.

Smith celebrates his maiden hundred

More players like Steve "Waylon" Smith are needed in the Australian side. Not the flashy, fragile types like Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja, who are undoubtedly talented but just can't seem to adapt to the next level, but players who are gritty, mentally tough and are constantly striving to work hard on their games and improve. Like Smithers, Smith is the kind of guy who is never likely to be remembered as one of the greats; he's always going to be most famous for his unprecedented awkwardness. He's always going to have his doubters. I just can't wait for him to prove us all wrong again.

Saint Ashton, My Saviour

It was a sad and sorry picture. There I was, sitting in solitude at my dimly lit desk, head in hands and on the verge of tears. Anger, frustration, despair welling up inside of me, ready to burst out at any moment. Another innings, another collapse. James Pattinson had just been caught dead in front by Graeme Swann, Australia teetering at 117-9 in the first innings of the first Ashes test, still trailing England by 98. Never in my life had I felt so ready to give up. Never in my life had I felt so ready to throw in the towel for the game of cricket. And then out walked Ashton Agar...

I had seen him do it before for Western Australia, making crucial runs and winning matches from almost impossible positions. We almost made the Shefield Shield final on the back of his batting performances, particularly his 71 not out against Tasmania in February. But surely, I thought, not in a test match. An Ashes test match no less, with Australia having just lost 5-9 and Jimmy Anderson reverse swinging the ball around corners.

But the 19-year old batted with a certain calmness and maturity, not befitting his tender age. He used his experience on the hard and bouncy WACA wicket to play his pull and hook shots, drove straight and through the ball with his giant Marcus North-esque backlift, and defended with stern authority. He took on Graeme Swann, one of the world's best spin bowlers, using his feet and stillness at the crease to great effect to strike the ball long and hard. He showed the rest of the Aussie team how Swann must be played for the rest of the series.

He also kicked Phil Hughes into gear, and the New South Welshman played the most mature and secure innings I have ever seen him play. It was the perfect confidence booster for Hughes - him playing well will be a big factor if Australia is to be competitive in this Ashes series.

And then, Ashton Agar was on 98. Australia lead by 65, and seemingly the whole of Australia held their breath. After a few nervy plays and misses, he middled a cracking pull shot... straight down the throat of Graeme Swann. I couldn't believe it. Not again! I was watching when Warnie fell for 99 in Perth. I was in utter despair as Mitchell Starc nicked behind in India for 99, only a few months ago. And now this. My heart was pumping, my hands were shaking... and I was just speechless. The blow wasn't an easy one to take, but it was made just that little bit easier as he walked of the ground, the biggest smile on his face, taking in what was surely the proudest moment of his life.

As Ashton Agar walked off the Trent Bridge ground, a world record innings under his belt and an unfailing grin on his face, he would have known that he had, almost single-handedly, given his team a fighting chance in the test match. What he didn't know was that he had just reignited the passion and love for the game of one cricket tragic watching back home, sitting in solitude at his dimly lit desk, now with an equally big grin on his face.

The Darkest Day

I love cricket. I love cricket more than most things. There's nothing like the excitement and buzz around the build up to a big home summer, or seeing a young upcoming player make their first century or take their first wicket, or staying up late with fingernails in mouth to watch gripping conclusions of important matches fought in various timezones across the world.

Unfortunately, however, my voracious love for the game means, along with the good times, many heartbreaking moments and gut-wrenching days. Today is one of those.

I can't help but feeling that this could have been the day that turned the India-Australia series around. In fact, I have this sickening feeling which tells me that the success or failure of the Australian cricket team for the coming year hinged on today's play. Had all gone according to plan, the only way from here was up. Now, it feels like the only way is backwards. Today is probably the darkest day I have ever endured as a follower Australian cricket.

It all started when Pragyan Ohja turned an absolute beauty past Steve Smith's outside edge, causing him to lose his balance and consequently his wicket - stumped by MS Dhoni - eight runs away from what would have been one of the most deserved maiden test centuries I have ever seen. I was so ready to show a rare bit of emotion and give a little fist pump in celebration. Steve Smith surprised me with how well he played. He has a good temperament for a young player, he sticks to his own game plan, and he's a really good player of spin - nimble on his feet, with a good balance of attack and defence. Hopefully some of the senior members of his team learn a thing or two from his innings today.

If Steven Smith deserved a little fist pump for what could have been his maiden test ton, Mitchell Starc deserved a full-on jump for joy (as well as a rise up the batting order) if he had made his. I have never felt so heartbroken for anybody getting out in the 90's before in my life - and I was watching when Warnie lofted Daniel Vettori straight down Mark Richardson's throat on 99 at the WACA!

Despite Smith and Starc falling just short of their maiden tons, their heroics guided Australia for a very respectable 400+ total. With a fresh, well balanced bowling attack ready to come out and win the test match for the Aussies, the day's disappointments were surely well and truly behind us, right? Wrong. I didn't watch it, but I can only imagine the horror of Shikhar Dharwan making an absolute meal of Xavier Doherty and co in his debut innings. How Australia did not manage take a single wicket in two and a bit sessions, with four frontline bowlers and two allrounders on a day three pitch is unfathomable. I've seen long days on slow, low subcontinental pitches before, but nothing like this.

So continues the rollercoaster ride in this wonderfully fickle game I love so much. It's not like watching the great Aussie teams of yesteryear, when you were pretty much guaranteed a victory every time you watched. I guess it's kinda exciting, knowing that the next game the Aussies play will end in either one of the following: Complete disaster, narrow defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, or narrow win by a margin too close for comfort. Close your eyes and hope for the best. Kinda like what Phil Hughes does...