A score of 167 all out is most un-Australian yet it was all that Ricky Ponting’s men could manage in the second innings of the first Test against the West Indies - although it has to be said they still won the match.

Freshly shaken from their controversial series against India, Australia are missing the likes of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, not to mention last year’s retirees Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The average age of the Australian side has tumbled, leaving Ricky Ponting the most experienced member of a side which has seen its total number of caps slashed almost in half since the beginning of 2007.

Are the cracks beginning to show? Or is it that the West Indies side are beginning to pick themselves up from their bad run?

'Anything less than a crushing victory is seen as a disappointing performance'


Perhaps it is unfair to start doubting the Australians, after all, they are leading the series in the West Indies and haven’t come close to defeat. Is it just people’s expectations that is making good performances seem lacking?

If this was England versus the West Indies or another middle-ranked side, there would probably not be any questions. A win is always a strong achievement for any team, but Australia seem to be receiving more criticism than praise. With their incredible success of the last few years, it seems the Australian team is now tasting the downside to having set themselves such high standards - anything less than a crushing victory is seen as a disappointing performance.

Until they start chalking up a few defeats, it seems premature to say that Australia are being challenged, though it says good things about the West Indies that they are not allowing themselves to be subjected to the fate that England suffered Down Under.

Then, Ponting’s men had a point to prove – shown by their decision to bat again in the first Test in order to prolong the tourists’ agony. It could be that the relatively conservative showing in the West Indies is the Australian team simply getting the job done – winning – instead of taking things to excess.

Whether the Australians are in danger of losing their crown or not, the West Indies have put up a spirited fight, a million miles away from the despondent team that toured England last summer.

If they can mount a challenge to Australia, the future for Chris Gayle’s men is looking brighter.