Aussies fired up (27 February 1999)

27 February 1999

Aussies fired up

Lasana Liburd

Instead of a training session scheduled for 3 p.m. yesterday at the Queen's Park Oval, the Australian cricket team settled for a gleeful game of water polo at the Hilton Trinidad.

Persistent midday showers had washed over Port of Spain, not the first time the weather has frowned on the Australians since they arrived in Antigua nine days ago.

Their first outing-a four-day match against a West Indies Board XI led by discarded WI opener Stuart Williams-was also curtailed by rain, forcing the visitors to settle for a draw.

But Steve Waugh, in his first Test series at the helm, is not worried about rain ruining the game against a West Indies Board President's XI team, led by Nevisian Keith Arthurton, scheduled to start from 10 a.m. today.

"If rain affects it, rain affects it," he said, feigning flippancy. "It probably cost us a Test match in Brisbane but we still fought back and won the series. So it's not going to affect the overall outcome."

This mood of quiet confidence, he assured the Express, surrounds his 15-man team. So, too, does a steady resolve and Waugh is quick to point out that they will not be distracted by the turmoil currently afflicting the West Indies both at board and playing levels.

"We have no control over what the Windies are doing," he says.

"Whatever happens, I'm sure for the First Test they'll come fired up. And I'm really looking forward to an excellent and tough series."

Today's play should prove the first reliable gauge with several President's XI players all bidding to make the best of the opportunity to win a place on the WI XI for next week's first Cable and Wireless Test. Opener Daren Ganga and middle-order batsmen Dave Joseph, skipper Arthurton and young Ramnaresh Sarwan, as well as leg-spinner Rawl Lewis and pacers Nixon McLean and Reon King.

Waugh declined direct comment about the Australian starting XI for today's match but he hinted that pacer Jason Gillespie would be getting special attention as they seek to find out what is their best team for Friday's First Test match. Waugh also made it clear that bowling would be key to Australian success in the series although he does not expect a repeat of the farcical first innings against the Board XI when they skittled their opponents for 55.

"I'm definitely not worried about the quality (of our opponents)," Waugh said with a chuckle. "The young guys were probably a bit intimidated and it wasn't the best pitch either, so I'm not going to read too much into that. I'm not even concerned about what the papers are saying. We've got our game plan and we'll be making sure we're fired up for the First Test."

Keith Arthurton (Capt), Daren Ganga, Suruj Ragoonath, Dave Joseph, Lincoln Roberts, Dennis Rampersad, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wayne Phillip, Rawl Lewis, Nixon McLean, Reon King, Marlon Black, Mukesh Persad.

Steve Waugh (Capt), Shane Warne (V-captain), Andy Bichel, Greg Blewett, Adam Dale, Matthew Elliott, Jason Gillespie, Ian Healy, Justin Langer, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Ricky Pointing, Michael Slater, Mark Waugh.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)