The following diary was written before Younis was appointed Pakistan captain...check back for his plans for the top job in Pakistan cricket

I have really enjoyed my experience for South Australia and after Pakistan’s long absence from Test cricket I hope the tough cricket will have helped a lot.

The professionalism of cricket in Australia is like nothing I have seen before, from the way the support staff take care of you to the way the players stand by you all the time in any situation. It’s totally different for me. They really love their cricket here. Everything is more professional.

The players are generally young here, like between 23 and 24, but the most striking thing I have noticed during my time in Australia is the intensity and the desire everyone has to win. Everyone really plays the game hard and goes out to win. Every single player here goes out and gives 110 per cent.

And I have not just noticed this in practice or in players’ mentalities, even when I am batting there are hardly any loose balls or easy runs. You are made to work hard for your runs all the time. I have been opening the batting and this has been a new experience.

I made a 90 in one Sheffield Shield match and in any other game anywhere else I have played in one-day or first-class cricket it would have been worth 120 or at least a century. The 118 I made against Queensland was really hard-earned.

That is how difficult conditions are here to bat in terms of the quality. It is a huge difference. Don’t; misunderstand me, though. The pitches here are good to bat and bowl on and give everyone a chance to perform but the conditions, in terms of the test of your ability, are extremely hard.

If I hadn’t come out to play I would have missed out in my career. I am grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board for giving me special permission and the clearance to play. At least I now know how the Australians prepare for their games. I know the pressure they go through to prepare themselves for the elite level.

It has been a good learning process for me. Maybe I will be here again with Pakistan so the experience has been important. I believe there is a lot more to come from me in international cricket and this has helped develop my game to a new level. Unfortunately South Australia's results have not been the best but we have competed most of the time. 

The team has been great to play with. Shaun Tait has been my room-mate on a few occasions and I am pleased that he is now back in the Australia team. He is a real dangerous bowler with his pace so I hope he stays there now. Maybe we will meet again out in the middle when Pakistan next plays Australia? That would be an interesting battle!