At the same venue tonight, it is difficult not to draw at least some comparisons with that infamous occasion, for the Australians' narrow, heart-wrenching defeat in their Group B World Cup match against Pakistan today has left them highly vulnerable to the virtually unthinkable prospect of not claiming a place among the six nations which will continue into the next phase of this event. While the collective pulse of the men from the Southern Hemisphere has not come to a complete stop as yet, this ten run loss was a shattering blow - and one which might, once their eventual fate in this tournament is decided, well go down in the annals of their country's cricketing history as among its most depressing of black moments.

Whilst they performed well today - and probably would have beaten just about any of the other sides assembled here - it certainly seems hard to recall a point in their recent history at which they will have been at a lower ebb than the one in which they will find themselves tonight.

To over-emphasise Australia's peril, however, would (quite wrongly) be to denigrate the play of a Pakistan team that continued to perform today with all of the magnificent flair, passion and spirit that has so manifestly characterised their approach since the return in recent months of the incomparable Wasim Akram to the post of captain. Whilst the basis for this triumph was essentially clinched in a pulsating last ten overs of their innings (in which they added an astounding 108 runs) and this wasn't one of their greatest all-time efforts, it is truly difficult not to laud substantial praise on this Pakistan team.

In essence, this outfit draws many comparisons with the 1992 World Cup-winning team. Its players do not surrender easily, they respond gloriously under pressure, and they thrill in their own and their teammates' successes. They also appear to have fostered a sense of unity which has ensured that many of the bitter personal rivalries that hitherto existed within the squad have become all but distant memories. And maybe even most importantly of all, they have developed an inextricably close connection with the fanatical (and impressively large) band of supporters who have followed them here from their embattled homeland which inspires them to excel.

Maybe even symbolically, their performance today was reminiscent of several which underpinned their World Cup-winning performance of 1992. With the loss of early wickets, then a steadfast mid-innings partnership, and a brutally extravagant late innings hitting assault at the forefront, their batting exhibition indeed conjured many memories of their stunning victories in both the Semi-Final against New Zealand and the Final against England. At the core of their effort was a steadfast (if slow) partnership from the steadily maturing Abdur Razzaq (60) and the enigmatic Inzamam-ul-Haq (81); in truth, not one of the most stylish associations we will see during this World Cup but certainly likely to be among the more effective. But what really stood out today was their ability to hit out with power and purpose during the final overs; the performances of Yousuf Youhana (29 off 16 balls), Wasim Akram (13 off 12 balls) and Moin Khan (31 not out from just 12 deliveries) truly stupendous in the context of a tremendous arm-wrestle between the sides for much of the day.

Although it was not the most comprehensive of efforts, their bowlers then did what they had to do, responding effectively after two partnerships had threatened to shatter their hold on the game. First, Razzaq underlined his growing maturity as an all-rounder by dismissing Mark Waugh (41) at a crucial stage and then, Akram and Shoaib Akhtar underlined their monumental importance to the team's campaign with an excellent performance at the end. Wasim indeed probably made the most decisive break of the whole innings, his ability to lure the gritty Michael Bevan (61) to leading edge a ball to Ijaz Ahmed at point after a 113 run stand with Steve Waugh (49) for the fifth wicket of huge import in the final analysis. These breakthroughs came on either side of a vital wicket taking burst from Saqlain Mushtaq in the middle of the innings - his effort in removing Ponting and Darren Lehmann (5) in the space of three balls also hugely significant when one pinpoints the pivotal moments of this contest.

And so it is that Australia's cricketers, who came to Headingley looking for a win and the chance to start their assault on qualifying for a place in the last six of this competition, leave a Leeds again looking grey in more ways than one with emptiness in their hearts. One senses that they can still probably reserve a ticket in the Super Six stage of the event with a win in Manchester against the West Indians in a week's time from now, but this result has certainly ensured that the lid on their 1999 World Cup casket is beginning to be nailed ever more securely in place. The dire circumstances in which they find themselves and the format of this simply marvellous tournament decree that that immediate amelioration of their form (meaning nothing less than two wins from the final two preliminary games) is indeed now the only conduit to recovery.