'Stick to plan A, don't go to plan Z'. © Getty Images

A top psychologist believes Ricky Ponting should not overreact to mind games, writes David Sygall in the Sydney Morning Herald. Performance psychologist Phil Jauncey uses interesting analogies, but the former Australian cricket team consultant's explanations provide a clue as to what might be swirling around Ponting's mind as he prepares to face West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach in the limited-over series this week.

Steve Waugh, for instance, stopped playing the short ball. Ponting worked on it and played it attackingly. They're both good answers because they both show that the batsman's in control. The problem arises if the batsman starts wishing the bowler didn't bowl short. Once you start saying, 'If only', you're giving up control of the situation.

Orwin Davidson, writing in Stabroek News, argues for caution in the confidence and optimism generated by West Indies' impressive performance in Australia. The West Indies team, he says, has been rebuilding for close to 15 years now and for it to take that long to rebound implies there are plenty of faults inherent in the system.

The worst thing that can accrue from those reactions from this Test series is to lull the West Indies Cricket Board regime into a false sense of security, into believing it can relax and do nothing to speed up the development of its young players, thinking those encouraging displays will blossom by themselves. Just like previous administrations did, when they expected world class players to fall from the sky when the Dream Team of the 1980s ended its superlative run on top of the world.

	Roar: Shane Watson © Getty Images

Chris Gayle, writing in his Daily Telegraph column, gives Shane Watson the benefit of the doubt after the allrounder screamed in celebration after dismissing Gayle in Perth.

Watson didn't actually say anything to me ... he just kept screaming in my direction. He has a bit of a temper and is pretty emotional so he was probably just letting it all out. Each player is different and getting me out came at a crucial time in an important Test match. There is no doubt he over-reacted but I am prepared to move on and let bygones be bygones.

Greg Baum in the Age says that fining Watson only 15% of his match fee is scant punishment for such a blatant breach of the Code of Conduct.

The sanction against Watson was pitiful. A cricketer's chief income is his base payment. The match fee is the icing on the cake. Fifteen per cent is a few specks of icing sugar. It is open to Cricket Australia to apply its own punishment and essential that it does. Otherwise, its code is merely a piece of paper.

In the Sydney Morning Herald John Buchanan, the former coach, suggests the team take another look at their spirit of cricket pledge. ''It was a foundation document so the current group may wish to move it in a direction that is more appropriate to themselves,” he said.

A 2-0 defeat for West Indies has not significantly improved their reputation but the result conceals a substantial improvement reflected in sharper fielding, improved running between wickets and more committed lower-order batting, writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald. Many anonymous players who never toured Australia made their mark and the Australians were taken aback.

Not even a surprising decision by a third umpire prepared to ignore the evidence provided by Hot Spot, and so the review system, could take the gloss off a superb chase by the West Indies or a deserved victory by Australia. The West Indians can be proud of their performance. In times past they were granted five-match series but their stocks have fallen and they stand near the bottom of the rankings.

In the Australian, Mike Coward writes that Ponting and his jaded minions may get to keep the series trophy locked behind the glass panels at Jolimont, but it's the West Indians who will sign off the first leg of the tour in a better frame of mind. They suffered more injuries than the hosts but somehow managed to motivate themselves better with every setback. Coward adds that the Australians are yet to figure out a way to close-out Tests in the post Warne-McGrath era.

For years they played with arrogance and a sense of entitlement to victory and all the privileges that go with it. But now they have lost their invincibility, opponents loudly question their credentials. Clearly, this irks those accustomed to constant success and, as was the case here, frustrations abound and raw emotions are exposed. Furthermore, few members of this team feel secure and therefore are fractious and vulnerable.

In the same paper, Peter Lalor says Chris Gayle is responsible for putting West Indies back on the map. Gayle led an aggressive and entertaining pack of cricketers who won hearts in Western Australia when they took to the stage and performed a reggae set at a function. he also writes about Gayle's wicked sense of humour.

In South Australia a young female photographer asked him if he could sit with his knees together while she took the team's picture. "I'd love to," he said, "but I can't." She is still blushing.

In most respects, Brad Haddin has been a superb replacement for Adam Gilchrist, writes Peter Reobuck in the Sydney Morning Herald, but as far as temperament is concerned, these players are chalk and cheese. Haddin did not need to get involved after Suleiman Benn and Mitchell Johnson rubbed shoulders but his mate's cause is his own and, anyhow, he was already irritated.

As much was obvious as he became embroiled in an exchange yesterday with Sulieman Benn that is bound to have wider ramifications. From the start of his innings, Haddin brandished his bat in the manner of a man determined to take the fight into the enemy. It is in his nature to take things personally, and the injury suffered by his captain might have been stirred him. For that matter, the bumpers dished out to comrades might have raised his ire. And so he came to the crease ready to rumble.

In the Sydney Morning Herald Peter Roebuck traces the rise of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has been the cornerstone of West Indies' middle-order over the past few years.

He bats like a puppet, every part of his body in motion: arms, wrists, legs, nothing static. He can look out of his depth, a man of rubber in a time of steel, a skinny fellow in an age of muscle.

Bowlers think they will get him out in a minute, and then the minutes turn into hours and sometimes days and still the modest man from the fishing village continues to pull in his haul. In the end, everyone looks at the scoreboard and realises he has done it again.