We can improve, says Waugh

The rhetoric was familiar, but after a less than impressive performance in the first Test at Darwin, Steve Waugh's assertion that Australia would be looking to improve carried a little more weight than usual.

"I think people expect Bangladesh to improve in the first Test, but I expect us to improve more," Waugh told reporters in Cairns ahead of the second Test which starts on Friday. "So we'll be putting on a good show in this Test match, we'll be going hard, we'll be playing as tough, as competitively as we can be. There's a chance we'll bowl on that wicket. There's a bit of grass there. We like to attack as a general rule and we've got some good bowlers. I don't mind what we do at the toss but I expect us to go hard."

The pitch is expected to be hard and fast, unlike the one at Darwin, and with tinges of green, Australia's bowlers are sure to give Bangladesh's batsmen a hard time. "I think that's what they need," said Waugh. "You want to see your players put under the most possible pressure and see who puts their hand up and see who's a Test match player and who isn't a Test match player.

"Tempo, poise, purpose, intensity, body language, patience and self-belief are words that they need to use and put into practice. They have talent in all areas of the game, which will develop as they acquire match practice in pressure situations."

Dav Whatmore, Bangladesh's coach, welcomed the chance for his charges to be tested to the hilt. "Our objectives are still to strive as hard as you can to show that we can get through some tough periods, to actually bat a session as individual players, those are the things," he said. "The boys are very keen to play. You can see they are keen to show some fight and be very competitive. I can't ask for much more than that."