I do Dubai

Eunice [Burns, played by Madeleine] Kahn

Poor first test Australia v Pakistan, it was so hard to get into you. There was so much going against you: the unreality of the off season, the unreality of a deserted stadium, no well-defined rivalry between the teams (at least from the Australian end), an apparently dead track, a big first innings total that seemed to suck out the likelihood of a good result or any result, Dean Jones. 

It happened eventually, right at the end, because of the drama of all the ‘almost’ chances and because I realised how unfair it was that I was yawning at a game in which Pakistan had rolled Australia twice on that 'dead' track, had 2 centuries in each innings, one of which was made off 80 balls, two of which were made by a dropped veteran returning to save his country’s honour, plus a feisty spinner who took 7 wickets for 116 runs. It obviously wasn’t you, it was me.

Poor Pakistan. Of all the reputations a team could have, the combo of ‘flaky’ + ‘shady’ has to be the worst. Your successes are suspected of being insubstantial, your failures of being intentional. On top of that, you have to play in exile in those glittering, ghost town grounds. Is it patronising to hope this is the start of better things? Will I come to regret that sentiment?

Note to Pakistani spectators: I like your headgear and fluffy toys, but they are not helping with the ‘flaky’ bit.

PS. This is my century too. 100 posts! Thanks for coming!