A stray remark by Ricky Ponting at a pre-match reception for the teams, hosted by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has helped Pakistani batsmen claw themselves to a position of strength in the Sydney Test.

Ponting's remark inspires Pakistan

The Australian captain had remarked that the unusually grassy pitch would be a test for the batsmen, as he and his wayward teammates realised to their cost when being bowled out for a paltry 127.

In all likelihood, this reading of the wicket, coupled with the daunting prospect of having to face spinner Danish Kaneria on a crumbling fourth inning pitch must have influenced his contentious decision.

Memories of Kaneria's eight for 204 at the SCG in 2005 are still fresh in Australian memories, not to mention the nightmare of the 2005 Edgbaston Test, where Ponting's decision to ask England to bat first on a seamer-friendly wicket still rankles in the memories of local fans.

"Ricky, when he was at the Prime Minister's place, he made a speech and said the pitch was going to be very tough for the batsmen," opening batsman Salman Butt recalled at the post-match press conference yesterday.

Whereas the Australian batsmen seemed to ignore their captain's word of caution, casting their wickets away in rather prodigal manner, Pakistani openers Salman Butt (71) and Imran Farhat (53) batted with the kind of circumspection that Test cricket, as distinct from its abbreviated versions, demands, especially on a seaming wicket in overcast conditions.

New Year gift
Farhat, handed a New Year gift yesterday in the form of a dropped catch at first slip off Peter Siddle when 11, got Pakistan off to a solid start. He put on 109 in association with Butt, before irresponsibly swishing a catch to Brad Haddin the first of the wicket-keeper's four catches.

Pakistan skipper Mohammed Yousuf had stated the previous day that Twenty20 cricket had fostered attitudes and techniques that were inimical to requirements of Test cricket.

This was exemplified in the manner of dismissal of Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal and the tailenders to injudicious strokes on a drying and increasingly placid wicket.

Whereas the openers paid due heed to their captain's exhortation, Pakistan's middle-order batsmen, the captain himself (46) and wunderkind Umar Akmal (49) were guilty of wanton rushes of blood after getting their eye in.
But for this prodigality, Pakistan would have been in a far stronger position than the 204-run they have at the end of the second day.

Whereas there has been considerable heartburn here over Ponting's decision to bat after wining the toss, former captain Steve Waugh, who was inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame yesterday (and given a lap of honour at the SCG),u00a0 believes the toss was irrelevant and that the Australian batsmen, the captain included, are to blame for their woes.

Meanwhile, former captain and bowling great Waqar Younis, who has been mentoring the Pakistanis in this series, has said that Ponting is vulnerable and opening batsman Philip Hughes yet to over his technical shortcomings.

Forty-year old Waqar, who took 373 Test wickets in a career spanning 87 Tests told the media yesterday: "He is one of the greats and you can't say he is in decline," adding" it is definitely in the back of his mind that he has been hit and he is vulnerable and that is where you want to cash in.

Getting a chance
"Great players don't really give much of a chance, and we have seen a chance. We've seen it against West Indies when he got out at short leg, and yesterday also he pulled it.

"You start thinking about it, but he is a fine player, and I am sure he will get out of that. Maybe if he gets out tomorrow the same way I might change my comments."

Although Waqar expects Australia to fight back in the second innings he said: "We have to stick to our plans and keep picking up wickets at regular intervals, and if we do that the game should be ours," he said.

With today being observed as Jane McGrath Day, the Sydney Cricket Ground will be awash in pink, with fans wearing pink bandanas, hats and shirts to help raise funds for the cancer awareness foundation started by Jane McGrath, deceased wife of former Australian bowler Glenn McGrath.

The day, part of the five-day event, will also feature a barbeque (which was hosted by prime minister Rudd at his home this morning), a high tea, and pigeon racing (the legendary bowler is nicknamed 'Pigeon').

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