Ponting's error of opting to bat first brought back ghosts of the 2005 Edgbaston Test

Ricky Ponting's error cost Australia

A palpable error of judgment by Ricky Ponting, exploited to the hilt by a Pakistani pace duo who had come to grief in the IPL and ICL, has left Australia in dire straits at the end of the first day of the second Test in Sydney.

Calling correctly at the toss Ponting, ostensibly in a grim reminder of his disastrous decision to put England in to bat in the fateful 2005 Edgbaston Ashes Test, defied conventional wisdom and, surprisingly, elected to bat on a wicket in conditions that were the answer to any fast bowler's dreams.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Sami celebrates after dismissing Ricky Ponting on the first day of the second Test in Sydney yesterday

Mohammad Asif, banned for a year from international cricket after being found guilty of taking the banned substance nandralone in the IPL took six for 41 in 20 overs, after Mohammad Sami, banished form the Pakistan side for a year for playing in the rebel ICL, had broken the back of the Australian batting when sending back Philip Hughes (0), Ricky Ponting (0) and Shane Watson (6) for just 10 after eight overs.

The highly-rated Hughes, a ward of Indian-born Neil D'Costa, who is currently on a coaching assignment in Nagpur, was dropped by Umar Akmal at gully off the very first ball he received but did not last long to enjoy his fortune, tickling an away going delivery to Zafar Iqbal in the slip cordon.

Ponting was out to a golden (first ball) duck for the second consecutive time at the SCG and the third first-ball dismissal in his distinguished career that, with 43 wins, has seen him become the most successful Test captain in history, ahead of his predecessor Steve Waugh.

Australia were bowled out for a paltry 127 in 44.2 overs when batting on a juicy wicket in overcast conditions that admirably suited the swing bowling of Asif and Sami. But for a characteristically swashbuckling 38 by emerging all-rounder Mitchell Johnson, the woes of the home side would have been compounded infinitely.

Old stagers at the SCG opine they have not seen a greener batting strip u00e2u0080u0094 it was almost indistinguishable from the outfield yesterday u00e2u0080u0094 at the venue. Pakistan captain said at the time it was a "good toss to lose".

However, as it turned out, the tourists did not feel the absence of Mohammed Aamer, their most successful bowler at Melbourne, who is not playing in this Test because of a groin strain.

Ponting has been dismissed by rising deliveries for the second successive time by Pakistan's fast bowlers, raising doubts about his full recovery from the blow to the elbow struck by West Indian quick Kemar Roach last month.

Questions are also being asked about the Australian skipper's ability to stay fit until the 2013 Ashes in England, where Ponting is determined to regain the Ashes after surrendering them last year.

Start of play was delayed until 2 pm because of light rain and proceedings were called off 11 minutes before the scheduled close because of fading light.

In a widely applauded gesture, the Pakistanis entered the field wearing pink cricket caps with their national star emblazoned on the front as a mark of respect to Jane McGrath, wife of legend Glenn McGrath.

The day was observed as Breast Cancer Day at the SCG, with fans and radio and television commentators wearing pink (the colour connected with breast cancer awareness) ties and scarves, as a mark of respect to Jane McGrath, who did sterling work in the field of breast cancer but succumbed to it two years ago.

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