Appreciate India's idiosyncrasies, Steve Waugh tells his players

Clearly regarding next month's tour of India as a challenge, the captain of the formidable Australian cricket team, Steve Waugh has advised his teammates to stay calm and composed and appreciate India's "idiosyncrasies".

Cautioning that India has some quality players, Waugh has however said, "if we are to be beaten, India will have to play real good cricket".

Leading a side that has won the last 15 Tests in a row, Waugh said in India "the crowds are going to be noisy and the wickets probably different".

The conditions are tough for fast bowlers on the slow wickets there, Waugh said but expressed confidence that with McGrath and Gillespie representing potentially the most lethal Australian pace attack to tour the sub-continent, "if we can get a lot of reverse swing, it should work in our favour".

"If we don't perform well in India, possibly we are not as good as these other sides that have won in the other eras," Waugh said.

Australia, who haven't won a series in India since the 3-1 triumph by Bill Lawry's side in 1969-70, are to play a three-Test and five ODI series there beginning next month.

"I think it's fair enough for people to judge us on that tour. I'm quite willing to put that on the line," he said.

Waugh, whose interest in India extends to his support for a hospital for children of leprosy victims, said it was just a matter of attitude and enjoying the culture, the people and the surroundings in India.