Waugh and Gillespie captain opposing sides for ATSIC match

CANBERRA - Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie will captain opposing sides for the historic indigenous cricket match at Canberra's Manuka Oval on April 19.

The Australian skipper will head the Prime Minister's XI while Test paceman Jason Gillespie will captain an ATSIC chairman's XI in the 40-over match.

Prime Minister John Howard and ATSIC chairman Geoff Clark said they were delighted the two players, who have both contributed to the success of the world record-breaking Australian team, had agreed to lead their respective sides.

Howard and Clark held a joint press conference to name their captains shortly after the Prime Minister opened the new National Museum of Australia.

"Steve (Waugh) expressed a very strong interest as soon as he heard about it during the Sydney Test (in January) and we had a talk after the Test," Howard said.

"We rearranged the date of the game so that any of the players that were playing in India would be back in Australia and they could participate." Howard said Waugh was interested in opening up opportunities for indigenous Australians to play cricket.

Clark said the first Australian side to tour Britain were Aborigines from his district in southern Victoria in 1868 and he looked forward to seeing more first-class indigenous cricketers.

"I'd like to proudly announce Jason Gillespie will be captaining the Aboriginal side, the chairman's side, on that day," he told reporters. "This is a year of celebrations and I think that we can knock off the world champions."

Clark said about 100 young Aboriginal cricketers wanted to play in the match.

Howard said he was not giving away who else might be on his side.

"I get first pick," Clark joked.

"Oh do you?" Howard replied.

He said the emphasis would be on up-and-comers in both teams.

Howard said Aboriginal participation in cricket needed to catch up to the football codes.

"This game will in a very prominent way signify cricket's commitment to providing greater opportunities," he said.

Clark said the game was an important step for reconciliation, especially as Aboriginal sportsmen such as boxer Anthony Mundine and athlete Kyle van der Kuyp and Democrats senator Aden Ridgeway were all keen to take part.