At stumps tonight this Test match hangs in the balance with both teams winning one day each. After a great day for the good guys yesterday the Pakistanis came back at us like hungry tigers this afternoon. Saqlain Mushtaq and Waqar Younis showed the Australian public why they are two of the best bowlers in the world.

After a long absence from the Test team Waqar displayed the traits of his golden years reverse swinging the old ball at menacing pace. His statistics in Test cricket are simply awesome and, if not for injury problems over the past few years, he could be even further up the list of the greatest ever wicket-takers in the game. Today he was pumped up like a heavyweight boxer as he roared into the crease like a runaway steam train.

At the other end Saqlain had the ball on a string as he mixed his pace with a ball spinning both ways. I have never seen an off-spin bowler genuinely spin the ball back into my pads like a leg-spinner, without an apparent change in his action. Muralitharan from Sri Lanka has the ability to straighten his off-spinner but Saqlain actually turns it the other way. When your brain has been programmed to play an off-spinner's action with the ball turning away from the bat it is difficult to get used to the ball jagging in the opposite direction.

We knew from day one of this series that the Pakistanis have the ability to play destructive sessions with both the bat and ball. For four sessions of this Test match we have dominated the game but thanks to a couple of excellent spells of bowling we are now going to have to fight as hard as ever to stay on top.

Traditionally Bellerive gets flatter and flatter as the game progresses so no matter what our target we will be able to chase it with confidence. For Western Australia I have played in two successful run chases on the last day. With a fast outfield and even pitch we will back ourselves to win from any position, although we will obviously look to bowl tightly tomorrow to cut down our target to as small a destination as possible.

With Slats in the type of form that he is in anything could happen when we next pad up for our second innings. He is playing with a confidence reserved for Muhammad Ali as he dances, slashes and powers his way to runs galore. He is on fire, a fire that could ignite a productive run chase in the next few days.