[Jadukor]

Day 1 of this test really showed us the value of creating sporting wickets. Yes, we did badly in the first innings but we also gained valuable lessons that our current technique and temperament will be found wanting under conditions which offer swing and bounce. Even if we play and get hammered on wickets like this, it would still be better than playing on the slow and low dead rubbers for a draw. I know people in the end remember the stats but lets be honest with ourselves, none of the guys selected in the batting eleven had any problems scoring centuries or double centuries just a week earlier and that in itself proves that the pitches prepared for domestics provide an inadequate representation of our ability with the bat. I don't know with the off-field drama whether we will get to play further test matches but if we do, the pitch prepared for this test match is a step in the right direction. The next goal is to tighten up as a batting unit and fight hard for the runs.