Australia will be staggered by the collapse they suffered under lights at the MCG. Everything pointed towards an easy outing for the world champions, even after the Lankans had rallied from a hopeless position to be 200-plus but like moths to the fire, Australians appeared to be on a suicidal mission. There was enough for Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds to build on to the good outing they had in Sydney the other day. They had then hit their best of the triangular and with finals in view, appeared to be finally coming on to their own. The one in Melbourne here would once again cast doubts in their minds. Matthew Hayden didn't play—or wasn't played--which had the tongues wagging but still the script for the day appeared to be unfolding on the expected lines. Sri Lanka had early stutters; Australia's pace trio was bang on target and a yawn of a game was in front of us all. The only interest centered around the guards of honour for the three departing legends: Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muthiah Muralitharan, the last two appearing for the last time on Australian soil. Good manners were finally making a presence in this Australian summer. The respect accorded to Gilchrist was understandable for more than one reason. The left-hander was finally bowing out of the stage and the Lankans wouldn't now suffer from his outrageous talent. They have mostly been at the receiving end of his flashing blade, the most notable being the 149 off 104 balls in the 2007 World Cup finals, and this was now the end of it. But not before Gilchrist revived all those painful memories. His blistering attack had taken Australia past 100 inside the first 15 overs. His half century came off 35 balls and as ball thudded into advertising hoardings all around the MCG, the game appeared well and truly over. Suddenly it all changed. The contrast couldn't have been starker; whereas runs were earlier flowing; they now were coming in a trickle. Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting played out nearly four overs for one run between them and it was just one such example. Symonds edged one down the legside, a sort of dismissal which happens when the luck and form is not on your side. Australia thus will carry the worry on their middle order into the finals. The pitch at the SCG probably will be less testing but their opponents, India, is playing bold, attacking cricket. They wouldn't hold anything back. Indeed there are reasons to believe they would truly be fired up after the jibes—rather vilification—they have been subjected to in recent days. India, on their part, must look for insurance against early jitters. A good start is absolutely essential for this team tends to do well if a good platform is laid out by the openers. Virender Sehwag is a match-winner and despite his lukewarm form in the one-day series, he is one who can truly turn the heat on. It will be interesting to see if his team is willing to take that one last chance with him. And finally, good that India qualified in Hobart itself. If they had lost at Bellerive Oval, a defeat of Australia today would have ripped apart all appearances of decency. The beast of revenge would then have been let loose, sinister motives would have been ascribed to the hosts. Grateful for small mercies, as they say.