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| April 1, 2003 | Tuesday | Muharram 28, 1424 |
Australians can reclaim top spot with Caribbean victory
SYDNEY, March 31: Australia, with Steve Waugh back at the helm, left here on Monday for the West Indies needing victory in the four-Test series to reclaim the number one Test nation ranking.
In a quirk of the International Cricket Council’s rating system the South Africans hold the mantle despite a shellacking from the Australians in their last two Test tour encounters, but Waugh offered no excuses.
“Unless we win this series we will remain the number two side so there is a lot to play for,” Waugh said at Sydney airport.
“People expect us just to turn up and beat the West Indies — it is not going to be the case. It is a tough tour to be on, but enjoyable.”
Waugh admitted the number one ranking was something he mulled over throughout the Australian domestic season while leading New South Wales to both the first-class and one-day titles, but admitted he was probably the only one who had.
“I’ve thought about it a few times, I know the other guys probably haven’t as yet but once we get over to the West Indies that will be one of the motivating factors,” he said.
Waugh heads into the series in tremendous form after a great domestic season while left out of the Australian World Cup-winning team.
The 37-year-old campaigner was keen to play the April-May Test series, while most teammates would more than likely be wanting to get away from cricket upon arrival in Jamaica.
Back home for only six days from South Africa, the one-day team has been on the road since last August.
But Waugh doesn’t expect any excuses: “They realise positions are hard to come by and once they you get in there you have got to make the most of it.”
He said pacemen Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath would most likely be rested for the only warm-up game before the first Test in Guyana on April 10, but a near-Test line-up was likely to play in the opening game.
Fast bowler Jason Gillespie was expected to be fit for the first game while batsman Damien Martyn was remaining home to have a test on his injured finger later this week and, if passed, would head over to the Caribbean before the first Test.
Team vice-captain Ricky Ponting said tiredness would not be an issue once in the West Indies.
“We feel pretty good. The one-day side has had its last function today so the World Cup celebrations are all over and done with,” said Ponting, who led the World Cup team.
“As Stephen said we are looking forward to getting back and putting our white clothes on again and playing some very good Test cricket.”
Four years ago Australia drew 2-2 in the Caribbean as Brian Lara blasted three centuries to finish the series on an average of 91.
Meanwhile, Waugh will shake any hint of complacency from the team on the forthcoming tour, wicket-keeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist said.
Waugh was overlooked for Australia’s recent World Cup triumph and he has spent the past two months leading New South Wales to the four-day championship and one-day domestic double.
“Test cricket, it’s a new challenge and obviously a different captain in charge,” Gilchrist said in an interview on Australian television.
“That captain in Steve Waugh obviously doesn’t take to being complacent very well. He’ll be demanding the best from us.
“It’s a big thrill for all of us to know that he’s committed to play on,” added Gilchrist in a reference to the decision announced by 37-year-old Waugh earlier this month.
Waugh equalled his former captain Allan Border’s world record of 156 Test appearances when he led Australia in the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney in January.
The gritty right-hander made a century in the match to equal Don Bradman’s national record of 29 hundreds. He also joined Border and India’s Sunil Gavaskar as the only players to score 10,000 Test runs as Australia won the series 4-1.
Waugh said on Monday that motivation would not be a problem for the weary Australians because Test cricket was special.
“The accolades and glory will last for quite a while longer for the deserving members of the World Cup squad,” said Waugh, who captained Australia to victory in the 1999 final against Pakistan.
“But they all know that their places in the Test team are closely contested and any sign of complacency will end in the results not being what they should be,” Waugh added in a Herald Sun column on Monday.
“We are the benchmark for other teams to aspire to, due largely to a thing called professionalism which is what we all pride ourselves on.”
Batsman Damien Martyn, who broke his finger at the World Cup and is remaining in Perth for treatment, is the only real injury concern after fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who was sent home from the World Cup with a heel complaint, bowled in the nets last week and declared himself fit.
The first Test in Guyana starts on April 10.
Australia’s 15-man tour squad (with ages, Test caps):
Steve Waugh (captain, 37/156), Ricky Ponting (vice-captain, 28/64), Andrew Bichel (32/11), Adam Gilchrist (31/39), Jason Gillespie (27/39), Matthew Hayden (31/32), Brad Hogg (32/1), Justin Langer (32/59), Brett Lee (26/27), Martin Love (28/2), Darren Lehmann (33/8), Stuart MacGill (32/19), Damien Martyn (31/33), Glenn McGrath (33/91), Ashley Noffke (25/0).—AFP/Reuters
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