True grit: New Aussie era hailed after sandpaper shame

Australia's battling draw against Pakistan has ushered in a new era for a team desperate to redeem itself in the wake of the sandpaper cheating scandal, media said Friday.

In their first Test outing since the ball-tampering fiasco in South Africa, the Australians salvaged a draw in the opening Test in Dubai thanks to a dogged 141 from batsman Usman Khawaja.

While such a result would not normally be cause for celebration, ABC columnist Richard Hinds praised the way Australia refused to concede defeat when facing a seemingly impossible task.

He said it was a promising start for the Test team under new coach Justin Langer, the former batsman who took over after predecessor Darren Lehmann quit in disgrace.

"No one knows more about the value of perseverence and preparation than Langer, given his wonderful career was a triumph of almost torturous dedication and bloody defiance," Hinds wrote.

"If this really was a Langer-era performance, let the dot balls flow."