Striking the right balance is something Test cricket must address if it’s to stay relevant entering a new decade.

When it comes to pitches, there should be an emphasis on making matches a contest between bowlers and batters instead of the run-fests they are today.

And when it comes to on-field behaviour, the game must come down heavily on boorishness, yet preserve what has appealed for so long.

At its best, cricket is hard, uncompromising and competitive.

Australia have responded well since their poor behaviour against the West Indies in the third Test in Perth before Christmas, when they were justifiably penalised and criticised for several displays.

Based on the first three days of the first Test against Pakistan at the MCG, Australia’s response to address their behaviour struck the right balance – hard and fair.

When Peter Siddle was hit for four successive boundaries by Umar Akmal in Monday’s first session, there was no petulance, just a rueful grin, even a chuckle.

Siddle later had some choice advice for Saeed Ajmal, but there was nothing that appeared alarming, especially as Pakistan’s No.11 gave back what he received.

In 99 overs with the ball, Australia’s behaviour was just as it should have been: competitive and unflinching, with justifiable appeals and no cringeworthy celebrations after wickets.

There was one appeal for a close-in catch where the ball clearly hit the ground, but to the naked eye it could have come off Mohammad Yousuf’s boot.

The previous time Australia had to be mindful of their behaviour, after the spiteful match against India at the SCG at the start of 2008, they were not sure exactly what to do.

On the first day of the following match, at the WACA Ground, Shaun Tait was so clearly conscious of behaving himself he apologised to Sachin Tendulkar for appealing for a caught-behind.

Almost two years on, there was no such identity crisis.

But there were no more dramas following the indiscretions of Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson, along with the West Indies’ Sulieman Benn, in Perth.

In fact, Haddin and Misbah-ul-Haq came across as old chums when the Pakistan batsman dropped a ball at his feet, picked it up once it was dead and handed to the Australian keeper, who was grateful.

That was a far cry from the acrimonious days of Australian-Pakistan cricket, when Andrew Hilditch picked up the ball in a Test in Perth 30 years ago and threw it to Sarfraz Nawaz.

Sarfraz appealed, Hilditch was out and relations between the teams plummeted.

One match does not mean Australia have changed their ways, but the signs are encouraging.

© AAP 2012

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