Are the Aussies now too nice to be winners?

Australia's cricketers are certainly behaving themselves in their match against India in Perth, but has the conversion from school bullies to contrite choirboys sapped the team of its legendary aggression?

With the Aussies teetering on the brink of defeat today, cricket scribes across the land have laid into their performance at the 'Perth love-in', questioning whether the team has taken its new demeanor too far.

The Test began with an open display of affection as each player shook the hand of every opponent, with Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh receiving a special pat from Australian captain, Ricky Ponting.

As The Age commentator Greg Baum noted: "The impromptu ceremony was the last of a series of diplomatic manoeuvres in the prelude to Perth meant to soothe the tensions that ran out of control in Sydney."

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