Winning the big points

Twice in the space of two weeks, Pakistan pushed the Australians to the very brink. And twice in two weeks, they imploded spectacularly at the final hurdle. The difference between the two sides - Australian discipline and ruthlessness - if not the margin of victory, remained the same.

For periods of the game, Pakistan gave a passable impression of the disciplined side they were playing against today. But at no stage did they seem comfortable wearing this disciplinary straitjacket, one that Australia wears naturally, and where Australians are merciless, Pakistan was meek. It was a barely contained facade; you feared that at any moment whenever they were settling on course to victory, Pakistan would break out in a rash of injudicious play, which they duly did.

First, despite being competently efficient in the field, they dropped straightforward chances, both unforgivably off the centurion Andrew Symonds. After checking the formidable Australian batting, they first loosened their grip, before losing control towards the end completely. The batting too seemed to catch it; Hameed, Malik and Farhat all fell to varying degrees of impetuosity and that the latter two fell after exhibiting some patience and restraint against some hostile bowling must have been disappointing.

Above all, they seem unable to grasp the basics of running between the wickets. If Bob Woolmer had a right to be shocked last week by Yousuf Youhana's kamikaze mission, then he would have been only slightly less distressed by the lack of urgency in their running today. Singles were conspicuous by their absence through Hameed's innings in particular. But even Inzamam-ul-Haq and Youhana's partnership lacked the aggression in running, and despite pacing the chase brilliantly, they both fell victims to indiscipline.

But there was still something comforting about a reliance on the old hands, Youhana and Inzamam; it bodes well for their chances in the Champions Trophy that both were in fluent form, although it is telling that Youhana again couldn't see his team through.

If Woolmer and Pakistan are on a process of learning, then at least they have been doing so from the best. What should they have learnt by now? That the Australians do exactly what Pakistan doesn't, and that isn't just winning the matches. They keep their heads, they keep their discipline and they adjust to whatever condition and situation they find themselves in.

Batsmen such as Mathew Hayden have battled through indifferent form, forsaking boundaries and picking up singles, while others such as Symonds, Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke have displayed flexibility to suit the situation. Their fielding has been occasionally rusty, but significantly they have held onto everything that mattered, and their bowling has been consistently threatening. They have been disciplined and professional when and where it mattered most and that has made the difference. And, of course, it helps, among a galaxy of stars, to possess one of the few genuine and consistent matchwinners in world cricket today.

Most eyes at the Champions trophy will understandably gravitate towards Andrew Flintoff and after the summer he has had, it isn't a surprise. But for most Australians, and even Pakistanis, the other towering Andrew - Symonds - will attract, if not more, equal attention.

Symonds may not have had as impressive an impact on the five-day game as Flintoff, but there is little to choose between them in the 50-over realm. Yesterday Flintoff came out against India with his side struggling and transformed their innings, biding his time, in the tradition of the finest sharp-shooting assassins, before picking his moment to strike.

Today, Symonds did exactly the same, coming in with his side in some trouble, playing himself in before striking right at the death. Pakistan, of course, are familiar with the full range of Symonds's explosive qualities. He revived his career, as well as turned the game, against them at the World Cup last year with a bludgeoned century in similar circumstances.

His bowling isn't always as incisive as Flintoff's, but crucial wickets against Pakistan last week and the all-important one of Inzamam today hint at a golden touch. And what he lacks in his bowling he makes up for with his fielding, the cause, incidentally of those two disastrous Pakistani run-outs last week.

Unlike his English counterpart, however, Symonds comes backed up by a selection of the world's best players and come the Champions trophy, he may yet have the opportunity to make a more significant and telling impact than Freddie. At least, in Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan have two cricketers who can make the combined impact of a Symonds or Flintoff.

Pakistan should feel no shame in losing so narrowly to Australia twice in succession. But if they learn a thing or two, then it should further lessen their disappointment. Pretty soon they need to start applying the lessons from the defeats.