Waugh's team on brink of long-standing record

BRISBANE - Steve Waugh's Australians begin a new summer campaign tomorrow admitting they are on the verge of a cricket record which could last well into the new century.

Waugh doesn't want to think too far ahead but the Australian captain said today his players could nudge the bar to almost unreachable heights if they rolled the West Indies in the first two Tests of the summer.

Australia is rated a red-hot favourite to win tomorrow's opening clash at the Gabba to equal the world record of 11 consecutive Test wins set by the Windies team which terrorised world cricket in the early 1980s.

Waugh's team can break new ground in the second Test in Perth but Australian fans don't expect the streak to stop there, tipping it could blow out to 15 matches this summer.

Sports bookmakers have Australia at unprecedented prices to sweep the series 5-0 after the Windies' woeful form away from the Caribbean.

"If we get there, it's going to be tough to beat," Waugh said.

"The record of the West Indies was a great record - they were a great side - and for us to get there would be a tremendous achievement.

"It's stood for a long time and if we get it it's going to stand for a long time to come.

"But you need a lot of things to go your way - weather and a little bit of luck here and there.

"We've had our fair share of it but we've played some great cricket as well and it takes a special side to win that amount of games."

Waugh said the record had been mentioned in team meetings but it would not be the over-riding focus during the first Test.

The skipper still rated the Windies as tough opponents, despite the tourists' humiliating loss to Victoria inside three days.

"They have had pretty poor lead-up form and everyone knows about that but Test matches are different," Waugh said.

"I remember my first series here against England in 1986 when everyone said they can't bat, can't bowl, can't field and they came out and beat us in the Test match.

"They have got quality players there and they're looking for someone to put their hands up."

Waugh said there was a "fair chance" he would bowl if he won the toss tomorrow on a new strip still rated an unknown quantity.

The batsmen at least know they will have to work hard for runs on a deck which should provide some early spice for the pacemen.

Waugh also expects the spinners to cash in, setting down a challenge for his leggie Stuart MacGill.

"He'll get a good bowl out there. It's going to turn that wicket at some stage, maybe even early rather than later," Waugh said.

"The last time he played the West Indies he didn't bowl as well as he would have liked and he gets another opportunity in this side.

"There's plenty of left-handers there and he gets the chance to get rid of that theory that leg-spinners don't bowl that well to left-hander. He's got a lot to play for."

The Windies will wait until tonight to name their team but captain Jimmy Adams said his players were capable of beating Australia if they could "come to grips with touring".

Their last visit away from home ended with a disastrous 3-1 series loss in England, stretching the Windies' record to 13 losses from their last 15 overseas Tests.

Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Andrew Bichel, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn (12th man).