Australian form a mystery versus Pakistan

CARDIFF, Wales - Shrugging and rolling his eyes, Steve Waugh admits he does not have the faintest idea how Australia will perform in the one-day international against Pakistan tomorrow.

Australia is vulnerable after losing to Middlesex and snatching a tie from run-of-the-mill Northamptonshire this week while Pakistan is flying high following Test and limited-over triumphs over England.

Damien Martyn, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Ian Harvey are in good touch but most of the tourists are still short of a gallop because of an extended break between the Indian and England tours.

A three-and-half-hour drive from Northampton to Cardiff last night was a nuisance and Nathan Bracken (shoulder), Damien Fleming (calf) and Ponting (hip) are carrying niggling injuries.

All Waugh could do was hope that playing by memory would be enough to get his World Cup-winning side through against Pakistan in a game which starts here at 8pm (AEST).

The Aussies then play England at Bristol on Sunday.

"I've got to say our form's been scratchy so far," he said ahead of Australia's back-to-back introduction to the tri-series.

"It hasn't been an easy preparation - we had to have some time off cricket and away from the game, which everyone needed really badly - but the downside of that was that when we got back on tour we didn't have much time to get it right.

"I must admit we're going into our first game a fraction apprehensive.

"We're relying on what we've done before to get us there - our knowledge and experience and know-how and obviously our talent - but we haven't spent a lot of time in the middle."

Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was more upbeat, saying little should be read into the Middlesex and Northants results because the team's trademark sharpness and enthusiasm would return when needed.

"We're happy, settling in well, it's very exciting now the real games are starting - the competition games where the points are up for grabs," he said.

"The guys are very pumped up."

The Pakistan match should be a cracker and early psychological points for the Ashes are up for grabs at Bristol.

England's batsmen crumbled twice to Pakistan this week and Australian pacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will be intent on kicking them while they're down.

Waugh rejected a suggestion that watching England crash and burn on television would have given him great pleasure, but he did not sound thoroughly convincing.

"It's hard to be too harsh because they could say the same about the last two Tests that we've lost to India," he said.

"We've collapsed under pressure as well.

"Pakistan were always a chance if they could get one or two wickets because they have bowlers who can take wickets with reverse swing and all that sort of stuff.

"I wouldn't like to say the old signs were there because I think any side put under that pressure on the last day is going to struggle to come up with the goods."

Damien Martyn's untouchable form - 108 against Worcester and 101 not out against Northampton - is tempting Waugh to leave him as an opener, where he averages 232.5 in six starts for Australia.

A possible XI to play Pakistan is: Stephen Waugh (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Matthew Hayden, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Changes will be made against England under the Australian system of rotating players in one-day tournaments to ease the workload on each individual.

"I don't like the word rotation - I've got to think of another word," said Waugh who, as an author, should be able to come up with one soon.