It is far too early for them to start rubbishing us yet - they'll wait until we are having a tough time of it at some point in SA so that it does maximum damage.

I watched (albeit on TV) Ponting play in a floodlit Totesport league match for Somerset against Durham. Conditions were awful (it was cold, wet and foggy) and consequently batsmen on both sides had struggled for runs. Ponting came in and scored 80 odd off not many more balls playing orthodox cricket shots and timing the ball perfectly winning the match for Somerset. It was the best innings I have seen for ages and it made me realised how well we are going to have to play to compete with the Aussies next summer.