Aussies on threshold of history
Australia will set out to be ruthless and clinical, but not vengeful, as they chase cricket history in the second Test against the West Indies starting Friday, skipper Steve Waugh said.
Australia will create a world record 12 successive Test victories -- beating the 11 set by Clive Lloyd's West Indies side in the mid-1980s -- if they beat Jimmy Adams' demoralised side on the WACA pitch in Perth.
"I don't feel any desire to square up now we have the Windies in trouble," Waugh said Thursday, referring to the former Caribbean kings' domination over Australia during the early part of his 15-year Test career.
"I don't feel any of that," Waugh said. "I was there when it (West Indies mastery) happened years ago, and it wasn't nice to be on the receiving end, but you just have to go out there and play good cricket."
"It's no good trying to have revenge on your mind. You can get distracted from what you are supposed to be doing.
"So we will try to be professional, ruthless and clinical if we can."
Waugh's side equalled the previous best Test winning sequence when they walloped the tourists by an innings and 126 runs in the first Test in Brisbane last weekend.
They go into this weekend's match as virtually unbackable favourites, despite having been thrashed by the West Indies in all five previous Tests played in Perth over the past 25 years.
"I am sure that the Windies, having such a marvellous record here, will be out there to play a very good Test match, and their fast bowlers will be a handful on this wicket, so if we don't make sure we do things right, we can be in trouble," Waugh said.
The Aussie skipper said the West Indies had a 100 per cent record at the WACA -- still one of the fastest pitches in the world -- because of the former strength of their pace bowling ranks.
"This time we have the firepower of the West Indies attack, perhaps a quicker attack, so the reverse might happen this time, and we may put pressure on their batsmen," he said.
Australia will give the new ball to Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, using returning firebrand Jason Gillespie -- fit again after breaking a leg in Sri Lanka last year -- as first change.
The West Indies' attack will be built around veteran Courtney Walsh and newcomer Marlon Black, with Mervyn Dillon and Nixon McLean providing pace support.
McGrath and Lee are both chasing individual records.
McGrath, who captured a remarkable 10-27 in the Brisbane Test, needs only two more scalps to become the third Australian to reach the 300-wicket mark.
Injured leg-spinner Shane Warne (366) heads the Australian list, followed by legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee (355).
Lee meanwhile has his sights on Australian Jeff Thomson's world record speed of 99.5mph (160.4kph), achieved in Melbourne in 1975.
Lillee has predicted that if Lee settles into his rhythm quickly in Perth he will have every chance of topping 100mph (161kph).
Waugh conceded that the tourists would probably go into the Perth Test thinking it was their best chance to put one over their hosts given the lightning quick pitch, but he added that it could be a case of now or never.
"It would be tough for them if we go 2-0 up in the five-Test series," he said. "I would not say we have broken them yet -- you can't say that after only one Test. But, if we were to beat them by a big margin here, well, they would find it difficult to come back."
West Indies captain Jimmy Adams said star batsman Brian Lara had been having further trouble with a hamstring injury which plagued him during their summer tour of England.
"But he had treatment last night and has assured me he will be playing in this Test," Adams said.
Mail Cricket Editor
