Australians abandon nightwatchmen

MELBOURNE - The record-breaking Australians have continued their quest to re-define Test cricket by scrapping the concept of nightwatchmen.

Captain Steve Waugh has confirmed his team will no longer use the traditional ploy of sending in lower order batsmen to protect their main strokemakers when a wicket falls in the final overs of the day.

Australia has used nightwatchmen in all three Tests against the West Indies this summer, sending in Andrew Bichel (eight) at No.3 in the first Test before Jason Gillespie (23 and four) was promoted in Perth and Adelaide.

"We've decided as a group we're not going to use it any more," Waugh said before the Boxing Day Test.

"We all came to the conclusion that we probably do do it just for the sake of it, so there is no real need for it and we've made a decision we're just going to go out there whenever the next wicket falls.

"There are certain things in cricket that just go on and on and on without changing and I think it's a great opportunity for us to try and change a few little things.

"This is an example. We want to try and set standards and do things a little differently than they've been done in the past."

Waugh has already made a significant impact on the game since assuming the captaincy last year, displaying an aggressive style which has led to results in 17 of his 19 Tests at the helm.

He has ignored traditional tactics before, including bowling first in matches, and has publicly backed his team to set records which could last decades.

The nightwatchman concept has long divided cricket watchers, with some questioning why captains reshuffle the batting order.

Waugh admitted the prospect of leaving talented No.7 batsman Adam Gilchrist with little support was among the factors considered by his players.

Tony Mann remains the only Australian to score a century during a nightwatchman's shift, hitting 105 against India in 1977-78.