Aggression had brought them this far, but Pakistan didn't have the experience and the nous to separate tactical boldness from mindless belligerence. They paid the price by losing a Test that – through spectacular counter-attacking with the bat and a deadly spell of fast bowling from Shoaib Akhtar - they had done so well to pull back.

Barring Shoaib, who was pegged on to the back-foot by a Glenn McGrath off-cutter, all the Pakistan batsmen fell to a mixture of wild flails, mighty heaves and suicidal slashes. Only Taufeeq Umar could count himself unlucky because Mark Waugh, who otherwise spilled catches as if he were on a mission to get himself dropped, took a stunning catch above his head.

But Taufeeq had already done much more than could have reasonably been expected, with a vigilant innings full of cultured strokeplay. He and Imran Nazir, with only seven Tests each to their name, put their first-innings ducks behind them to neutralise the new-ball threat from McGrath and Jason Gillespie. And though Nazir fell to an ill-conceived heave at Shane Warne, Taufeeq neutralised the legspinner with skill and élan, nudging, driving, cutting and defending against him expertly. His innings of 88 had brought Pakistan to a stage where victory was more than just probable.

Yes, it would still have to be earned, because Australia aren't a side known to give up and they have in McGrath, Gillespie and Warne a bowling attack as good as any in the history of cricket. But still, the match was at a stage where Australia had to make the play: Pakistan simply needed to bat with intelligence and application and make Australia earn each wicket.

With Younis Khan surviving so many near-misses in the first hour, it seemed that luck was running with Pakistan. But cricket rewards those who learn from their mistakes. All credit to Warne for giving the ball air and mixing up his deliveries; however, Misbah-ul-Haq had apparently learnt nothing from Younis's wild slog in the previous over when he charged down to drive Warne inside-out. Younis himself fell to an injudicious pull – only the supremely blessed or the utterly foolish attempt that stroke against Warne's skidding flipper. The lbw verdict was perhaps harsh, but Younis didn't deserve the luck.

The rest batted as if they had been watching their renegade colleagues play in the 15-over under-a-roof Power Cricket farce on a football ground at Cardiff. McGrath and Gillespie had bowled countless wicket-taking balls in this match without reward, but the Pakistani lower order made up for their fruitless labour in the space of four overs.

Pakistan's tame capitulation was a shame because it didn't do justice to the fight they had put up after the first day. They fought back to restrict Australia to 467, fought back to avoid the follow-on from 0 for 2 and 45 for 4, and sensationally blasted Australia out for 127 to set up a possible victory.

Considering how mismatched these two sides are, the final result was hardly a disgrace to Pakistan. But years later, they will reflect ruefully on a wonderful opportunity lost.

Sambit Bal is editor of Wisden.com in India.

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