Gillespie to replace Damien Martyn
The shattered West Indies cricket side will still pack a punch this summer despite their first Test disaster, Australian captain Steve Waugh predicted in Brisbane on Monday.
"After just one Test, they are still capable of coming back -- we saw that in the Caribbean when we were last there," Waugh said before heading for Perth, on the other side of the country, where the second Test starts on Friday on the controversial WACA ground wicket.
Jimmy Adams' tourists are still in shock after Saturday's crushing first Test loss by an innings and 126 runs on the third day of a Brisbane clash scheduled for five days.
The win gave Australia a record-equalling 11th consecutive Test win, leaving them on the brink of an historic win if they beat the Windies in the Western Australian capital -- something they have never done before in five confrontations there since first meeting in Perth 25 years ago.
Relishing the fast, bouncy pitch, the West Indies have cruised to victory every time -- three times by an innings, once by 10 wickets and in the other clash by a huge 169 runs.
The Windies have been given little hope by most commentators of turning the tables in this series, especially after their batsmen crumbled for totals of 82 and 124 in Brisbane, with even champion left-hander Brian Lara failing with a duck and four.
"But I thought their bowling was strong and their four pacemen are going to be a handful over in Perth, so we're going to have to bat well," Waugh said.
Waugh recalled that, in the Caribbean early last year, Australia won the first Test by 312 runs after the Windies were bundled out for a humiliating 51, but the home team fought back to win the second Test by 10 wickets and the third Test by one wicket.
Australia were relieved to draw the series at 2-2 when they clinched the fourth Test at St John's with a 176-run victory.
Waugh agreed, though, his current Australian team is better than the unit he took to the Caribbean just after he had taken over the captaincy from retired Mark Taylor.
"The West Indies tour was a bit disjointed for us," he said.
"We were finding our feet a bit and guys were still sorting me out and I was getting to know them better. It's a different scenario here from the one before."
The squads are scheduled to be in Perth Tuesday, with intense training planned for Wednesday and Thursday.
Australian selectors made one change to their 12-man squad, recalling paceman Jason Gillespie from injury to replace 12th man Damien Martyn. Gillespie is expected to return to the final eleven, making Queensland paceman Andrew Bichel a likely 12th man despite his workmanlike performance in Brisbane.
Mail Cricket Editor
