We can beat India on any type of pitch: Steve Waugh

Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh declared in Perth on Satuday that he was confident his Test side could beat India on any type of wicket in the three-Test series starting in Mumbai on February 27.

But at the same time he expressed concern over reports that Indian cricket chiefs had instructed groundsmen across the country to produce lifeless wickets to thwart his all-conquering team who have won their past 15 Tests.

A spokesman for the Mumbai Cricket Association was quoted in Australia as saying: "We have been ordered to prepare slow tracks. The order has apparently come from chairman of selectors Chandu Borde and coach John Wright. We will abide by it."

Borde and Wright reportedly refused to confirm they had made the demand.

Waugh said he understood that under the International Cricket Council regulations cricket bodies were not supposed to talk to groundsmen or influence the state of wickets.

"So I am pretty surprised the spokesman has been quoted as saying that this is what the wickets are like, because you are not supposed to do that.

"I expect the wickets will be slow, with not a lot of life in them, but I think we can beat them on any wicket, so it doesn't concern me what sort of wickets they produce.

"It just concerns me if someone is influencing the type of wickets they are producing, because that is not in the game of cricket. You are not supposed to be doing that."

Mail Cricket Editor