Contempt for an unlovable Australia

Dylan Cleaver writes in the Herald on Sunday that Ricky Ponting should get used to the term schadenfreude.

The cricket world is taking perverse pleasure in the apparent crumbling of a cricket empire - everybody loves seeing the playground bully's glass jaw exposed. The reason is simply this: where once there was grudging, yet tremendous admiration for the Australian juggernaut, now there is contempt.

Where Australia was bold and innovative under Mark Taylor and, to a lesser extent, Steve Waugh, they're now crass and stubborn. Take the level head of Michael Hussey out of this team and they're close to unlovable.

In the same paper, Mark Richardson argues that Daniel Vettori must be brave and send Australia in if he wins the toss at the Gabba.

Southee, Kyle Mills, and Chris Martin are swing bowlers and Ian O'Brien will get seam movement in the right conditions. Unless rain is forecast those conditions will only exist on day one. Then pray. It's a gamble bowling first in Australia. Nasser Hussain asked Australia to bat first on the greenish looking Gabba only for the locals to pound out 600 plus.