Australia's best to feature in Pura Cup

ADELAIDE - Envious eyes will be cast west on an evergreen international and a young gun when Australia's four-day domestic cricket competition starts this weekend.

The cricket might of Western Australia has been enhanced by the recruitment of former Zimbabwean Test player Murray Goodwin and Shaun Marsh, the highly-rated son of former Australian batsman and current national selector Geoff Marsh.

Goodwin and Marsh bolster a Warriors outfit that, with Queensland, has dominated Australia's four-day domestic competition in recent times.

Queensland won the title last season in a period more noticeable for the controversial name change of the competition than the cricket it contained.

From this Friday, the Pura Cup will offer Australia's best the chance to take advantage of a long domestic preparation before a demanding international campaign.

Australian captain Steve Waugh has vowed his players will work hard at home following a disappointing early exit from the ICC Knockout tournament in Kenya, losing to India in the quarter-final.

And, with the first Test between Australia and the West Indies six weeks away, players will be keen to thrust their names before national selectors with strong performances in domestic competition.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said this week his panel would take advantage of the unusually large number of interstate games ahead of the Test series, which begins at the 'Gabba on November 23, to monitor form.

In the Pura Cup opener starting Friday, WA seeks revenge against Queensland.

The Warriors welcome Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn back from international duties to a side considered the likely challenger to the Bulls' throne.

WA also boasts Test batsman Justin Langer and will again be captained by Tom Moody, who has been not played first-class cricket for his state since March last year because of a back injury.

Goodwin spent the past three years with Zimbabwe's national team while Marsh, a stylish batsman, will embark on a career already pre-destined for great things.

Meanwhile, gifted allrounder Andrew Symonds returns to a Queensland side missing paceman Scott Muller and spinner Geoff Foley.

Muller recently injured a knee during a fitness test, while Foley is suffering a virus and missed Sunday's three-run victory over South Australia in the Mercantile Mutual Cup opener.

Bulls opening batsman Matthew Hayden will be looking to continue the form that allowed him to break back into the Test team while Victorian Matthew Elliott, South Australian Greg Blewett and WA's Mike Hussey could mount challenges for his national spot.

New South Wales, which finished bottom last season, will rely on international players Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan, Shane and Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath.

The Blues take on Victoria in a one-day match on Sunday and then a four-day fixure starting at the MCG on October 25.

Mark Waugh has been left out of the NSW side for Sunday's match after being troubled by a back injury in Kenya.

Today he declared his intentions to defend his Australian team berth by scoring runs for the Blues after returning from the ICC Cup tournament amid media calls for selectors to end his international career.

Tasmania will be missing Colin Miller, who has gone to Victoria, and Mark Ridgway (retired) when it meets Queensland in the Pura Cup from October 26.

The Tigers have recruited former Victorian paceman David Saker and wicketkeeper-batsman Sean Clingeleffer.

South Australia will have paceman Jason Gillespie and spinner Brad Young back from overseas when it meets WA at Adelaide Oval from October 26.

The Redbacks are planning to blood a number of new players this season including Daniel Harris, allrounder Ryan Harris and Luke Williams.

Ryan Harris has been selected in the squad for SA's first four-day match of 2000-01.