It should have told Ponting best batsman since Bradman or not, he was on his last chance and had to lift his game.

But that couldn't happen, not when Cricket Ausrtalia long ago lost the balance between

commercialism and the game.

Not when the Australian team's almost primary function seems to be selling fried chicken.

Not when an Australian selector David Boon can monkey about in a fairy costume to sell

beer (surprisingly, no outrage from the homosexual lobby or the anti racists).

Or Cricket Australia, Ponting and International Cricket Council match referee Mike Proctor, cloaking themselves in moral outrage over Harbhajan Singh's alleged monkey comment to

Symonds.

In their metaphorical blindness, do they really think Singh's alleged triviality was a greater threat to the game than Australian cheating on the Test first day, umpiring standards and Australian arrogance over many days.

What next if Singh plays Australia again?

"You'll be Singhing a different tune now.''

"Oh yeah, you've got a face like a half-sucked orange''.

"Oh yeah, you've got a face like a pregnant rice bubble.''

Racist? Citrust? Breakfast foodist?

Ironically, among the Australians' many plugs is a witty one for backyard cricket.

If backyard cricket was played the way the Australians play, everyone would take their

bats and balls and go home.

The tragedy is that for seasons Australia has set such high playing standards, it could have

set a standard of sporting play from a position of strength.

Former West Indian great Michael Holding has said the problem with players setting their own voluntary codes is that some players are cheats.

Nothing new there and so what if Australia dropped a Test to cheats?

Losing can be good for the soul. Witness how

Australia lifted their standards after the unexpected Ashes loss.

The current crisis has given cricket a great chance to cleanse itself, but past form is not reassuring.

As it stands, rugby league is the only real winner.