IT was almost painful watching the Australian cricket team try and combat the bowling of Pakistan earlier this week before Michael Clarke and his men were eventually put out of their misery in a 221-run loss.
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Our weakness against spin is now glaringly obvious with even Clarke, long regarded one of the world's finest players of slow bowling, looking unable to overcome the dustbowl pitches of the UAE.
The second Test starts tomorrow afternoon (Australian time) and with that there is nowhere near enough time for players to overcome those problems there have been a host of people calling for changes to the side.
Despite Australia not being the team we once were and the fact we were outclassed in the first Test this is not the time for kneejerk reactions.
It's true Chris Rogers doesn't look the player he was even a year or two ago but with no other opener truly banging on the door he looks set to partner Dave Warner for a while yet, something he does perfectly well.
Alex Doolan looked clueless against the likes of Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah but deserves a second chance, as does Mitchell Marsh, who debuted in the most difficult of circumstances.
Marsh had long been touted an Australian player and has the talent to succeed but dropping him now would do his confidence no favours and he has earnt the chance to battle it out with Shane Watson for the all-rounder's spot.
While the Pakistan spinners tormented our line-up, the opposing batsmen seemed to have no trouble against our tweakers, Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe.
Lyon continually battles with his tactics, often bowling too fast or too short, but he has proven in the past he can do the job for Australia and his position should not even be called into question.
O'Keefe is unlikely to have a long stint in the baggy green with Australia certain to play just one spinner when at home, but still has a role to play in this series.
The UAE is not an easy place to play. Last summer the Aussie team played brilliantly and we all said the side was back on its way to the top but now after one loss there are calls for everyone's heads.
When Australia struggled after the retirements of McGrath, Warne, Hayden and Gilchrist it was because the selectors chopped and changed the team far too much.
In more recent times the national team has produced more consistent results because there was more consistency in team selection.
The team is far from perfect but it's the best we've got right now and it's a team which is still undoubtedly more than capable of returning home and dominating another Aussie summer.
