I ALMOST felt sorry for Australia during an incredible first-innings collapse at Trent Bridge last week.

No, you’re right, I didn’t – and even chuckled at Sunday Morning Herald’s ‘It’s Pomicide’ headline.

It was humiliation of the highest order, going some way to eradicate memories of the previous 5-0 drubbing England suffered last year.

But, skittled for 60, it wasn’t even the Aussies’ lowest total in an Ashes innings – that was 36 in 1902, when they still managed to draw the match.

However Thursday’s routing sparks memories of former sporting humiliations, complete collapses and underdog stories.

Brazil’s 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil in last year’s World Cup semi final is a recent addition, but there have been plenty.

In 1998, Wigan were still a dominant force in rugby league having won the Challenge Cup on eight of the previous 10 occasions.

No one would dare bet against them winning back the cup at Wembley that May, apart from those in the Sheffield Eagles camp.

Having only been a top flight side for three seasons, Eagles stunned the favourites in a 17-8 victory to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

Boxing is the perfect breeding ground for Rocky Balboa-style rises, and Buster Douglas pocketed his fortune in 1990 after sending undefeated heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson to the canvas after 10 rounds in Tokyo.

Douglas rode his luck that night, facing a Tyson more occupied by women and parties while also failing to be counted out in the eighth after a misunderstanding from the officials, but did the unthinkable.

Likewise, few expected Hasim Rahman to trouble heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in April 2001.

But he did, stopping Lewis – who delayed his training camp to film ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ in Las Vegas – in the fifth round.

No sport is less merciful than golf when form deserts you.

The image of Jean Van de Velde, shoes and socks off, fishing his ball out of a creek at Carnoustie on the way to blowing a three-shot lead on the final hole of The Open in 1999 haunts many an amateur golfer.

Elsewhere three-time Olympic basketball champions USA lost to Puerto Rico, Lithuania and Argentina in 2004; the Soviet Union ice hockey team, winners of six of the previous seven golds, fell to a USA side made up of college and amateur players in 1980; and Boston Red Sox recovered from 3-0 down to beat New York Yankees en route to a first World Series since 1918 in '04.

So, chin up Australia – perhaps you can call on last week’s answer, Steve Waugh (Edgbaston, 2001).

But, who stunned Wales in their 1991 Rugby Union World Cup opening game at Cardiff?