Slamming young Michael Clarke, who has been touted as a future captain, Roebuck writes: “That his mind was in disarray could be told from his batting. In the first innings he offered no shot to a straight ball and in the second he remained at the crease after giving an easy catch to slip. On this evidence Clarke cannot be promoted to the vice-captaincy of his country. It is a captain’s primary task to rear his younger players and to prepare his successor for the ordeals of office. Nothing need be said about the catch Clarke took in the second innings except that in the prevailing circumstances the umpires were ill-advised to take anyone’s word for anything.”

Probably the worst aspect of the Australians’ performance was their conduct at the end, writes Roebuck. “When the last catch was taken they formed into a huddle and started jumping up and down like teenagers at a rave” Not one player so much as thought about shaking hands with the defeated and departing.”

Finally, Roebuck sums up with another go at Ponting: “Ponting has not provided the leadership expected from an Australian cricket captain and so must be sacked. On this evidence the time has also come to thank Hayden and Gilchrist for their services. None of them are bad fellows. All will look back on this match not as their finest hour but their worst. Obviously a new captain and side is required. But that is a task for another day. It is possible to love a country and not its cricket team.”