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Australia had put themselves in a position to challenge Pakistan at 0-128 early on day three of the first Test against Pakistan yesterday.
But their frailties on slow decks quickly re-emerged and they ended the day staring at defeat.
This is Australia’s first Test in more than seven months following their sequence of seven wins in eight Tests against England and South Africa last summer.
Rust, however, is no explanation for their feeble performance yesterday on a dull pitch opposed to a very inexperienced bowling attack.
To lose 10-175 after having subordinated Pakistan’s bowlers was woeful. It served as a jarring reminder of the manner in which Australia’s batsmen had abjectly failed to adapt to similar slow, dry pitches during their run of nine Tests without a win in India and England last year.
Australia lost veteran Chris Rogers early in the day after he chopped onto his stumps a Rahat Ali delivery which seamed back into the left hander.
But the rot really started with the mindless dismissal of Alex Doolan soon after. Despite entering the match seemingly in fine fettle with a ton to his name in Australia’s warm up match, the Tasmanian laboured.
After joining together 15 dots to start his innings, Doolan was only allowed off the mark due to a misfield. He then continued to be tied up by Pakistan’s spinners, even though he attempted to break up their lengths by using his feet.
Perhaps muddled of mind due to his scratchy start, when Doolan was on 5 from 33 balls he bunted the ball to mid on and set off on a kamikaze single.
Run outs so often seem to precipitate a batting collapse and so it was again. Michael Clarke’s form trough continued, Steve Smith squandered a bright start and when Warner was bowled by a stunning delivery from Yasir Shah, Australia were in tatters at 5-207.
Australia’s pair of Mitches provided some relief from the clatter of wickets with admirably cautious and calculated approaches.
Mitch Marsh continued his encouraging Test debut, fighting his way to 27 before being trapped in front by Zulfiqar Babar.
Johnson, too, gave resistance and helped Australia nudge towards 300, but conceding a lead of 151 runs on the first innings is disastrous.
As with assessments of the first two days of play, it would be unfair to focus entirely on the misgivings of the Australians.
Pakistan have been gallant with both bat and ball in this match in Dubai. They surprised many with their disciplined batting on days one and two.
Yesterday, their bowlers recovered from a poor start to replicate the determined and patient efforts of the batsmen.
Rather than trying to produce miraculous deliveries to flummox Australia’s strokemakers, the Pakistan bowlers were content to build pressure through consistent offerings.
This mature strategy, combined with the graft of their batsmen, has put them in a nigh-on impregnable position in this Test.
Australia have been left to try to manufacture a draw. With Pakistan already leading by 189 with ten wickets in hand and two days to play, that will be a monumental task.
Australia may have defeated the number one side in the world and briefly stolen that Test title from South Africa.
But, in spite of their resounding surge in form, the first three days of this Test suggest that they remain a vulnerable outfit on slow pitches.