Patience Required

Labuschagne (left) and Head (right) leave with Daddles.

There are many things which arise out yet another disastrous Australian batting collapse - this time in Dubai but of late, it could be anywhere - but the most obvious is that Australian cricket fans are going to have to be patient.

Inevitably, there will be those who want to bang on about the suspension of cheats and the odious length of the sentence but then that's the thinking that bred the cheats in the first place. The Baggy Green has to be better than that. In truth, on recent performances, its unlikely much would have been different if the Bunnings Boys had been playing.

Again, the problem was two things: technique and temperament. Finch and Khawaja were patient. They played the line and they accommodated the movement of the ball by waiting. There was none of that after they fell. Hard hands, aggression before assessment, impatience and a failure to go to school on what you were seeing before you batted were the failings of the rest. When I was a kid, the coach made us sit and watch what was happening in the middle before we batted but not the scoring shots. Oh no. Watch the defensive shots boys. Watch the line of the bowlers. Look carefully at the field placings. Look and learn. Sometimes when things are stacked so heavily against your favour, you have to bat to the conditions and out wait the bowling.

For some, the newbies with blobs - Head and Labuschagne (pictured) - they now know that Test cricket is a hard gig. Its a kick in the arse that might make or break them. Time will tell and that's the point. Test cricket is all about time in the middle and for the modern youngsters, even Sheffield Shield doesn't afford them that understanding.

For Bros Marsh, it was two different stories. The younger worked hard, was patient, played the line and was unlucky but going back to a medium pacer on these decks is fraught with danger. He continues to show a willingness to learn and an adaptability. The elder played a bad shot that as a senior in the side, he was not entitled to play and its this issue of judgment which has been the hallmark of his career. Lehmann was prepared to tolerate it. I doubt Langer will.

10-60 is a shocking betrayal of themselves. They'll be reminded of that. The best of them will work on changing it. This Test is gone and in truth, the series always loomed as 0-2.

Remember when you kid was learning to ride a bike? They'd pedal a bit and then lose they balance. You'd pick them up, say a few words of encouragement, give them a push and hold your breath.

Be patient Australia.