Chappell urges Pakistan to think positive

After the 491-run hammering that Pakistan were subjected to in Perth, Bob Woolmer suggested that mental fragility had been the reason for the debacle. And the former Australian captain Greg Chappell, for one, believes that Pakistan need to adopt a far more postive approach if they are even to contemplate competing on an even keel with Australia.

A report in the Jang newspaper quoted Chappell as saying: "I think Pakistan has a similar problem that New Zealand had and many other sides have had against Australia in recent times. They [the Pakistanis] are going out there with the wrong mindset. They are going out there to survive, rather than prosper. The survival mentality is a negative mentality."

Chappell reckoned that Pakistan would do well to learn from India's performances in Australia a year ago, when they ruined Steve Waugh's farewell with a 1-1 draw. "The only team that have played Australia positively in recent times has been India and they actually performed quite well," he said, before mentioning the famous case of Daryll Cullinan, an otherwise fine batsman who was reduced to an inept wreck by Shane Warne.

"Cullinan was a very good player but he was reduced to looking like a schoolboy every time he batted against Warne because of what he was thinking about."

The technical frailties of the Pakistani batsmen were ruthlessly exposed by Glenn McGrath, who picked up the eye-popping figures of 8 for 24 as Pakistan subsided for just 72 in a truly abysmal second-innings display. Chappell, though, was of the opinion that excising fear from their minds would go a long way towards combatting a formidable bowling line-up.

"If they go out with a positive approach to actually trying to score some runs, then they may find improvement in their techniques," he said. "If they are thinking positively, they are more likely to move positively."

Pakistan haven't won a Test match against Australia for nine years, and have now lost seven on the bounce to them. Even if they heed Chappell's advice, it will take a minor miracle to prevent that unwelcome run stretching to eight.