The short Test series between Australia and the nominal home side, Pakistan, has started quite brightly. From the moment when Ricky Ponting stuck the elbow into the over-celebrating Mohammed Aamer, it was obvious this was going to be a feisty one.
And so it's proved so far. The Pakistanis bowled really well to dismiss Australia for 253, Mike Hussey - inevitably - marshalling the tail in making an unbeaten 53 after Australia were rocking on 208/7 and 222/9. As my old man drummed into me from a young age, never judge a pitch until both sides have used it. Where the Pakistan seamers impressed, so did Australia's pace battery. Shane Watson and Ben Hilfenhaus had reduced them to 83/5 when Shahid Afridi walked to the crease. The captain of the side, you'd think he'd do the job that was required: build a partnership with Salman Butt, who was well in having opened up, and sticking around long enough with the tail in order to get as close as possible to Australia's total.
Perhaps it's indicative of the lack of Test match cricket that Pakistan have had recently or perhaps it's just that Afridi will never change, whether he's the captain or down amongst the infantry. Either way, blasting Watson for 20-odd in one over and eventually falling - slogging, as if that should come as a surprise - to Watson for 31 off 15 deliveries.
What Pakistan needed was a captain's knock. This wasn't a captain's knock, but it was this captain's.
