Mark Waugh may play in first Test

Faisal Shariff in Bombay

The chances of injured Australian batsman Mark Waugh playing in the first Test against India at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium have brightened considerably.

Captain Steve Waugh said on Monday morning that his twin's chances of playing were "pretty good". "The final decision will be taken tomorrow morning," he said. "He is most likely to play. He will probably not field in the slips. But we need him to bat."

Mark Waugh split the webbing on his left hand while trying to take a sharp catch in the slips in the three-day warm-up game against Ranji Trophy champions Bombay at the Brabourne Stadium last week. He did not bat in both innings of the match.

Steve Waugh, who inspected the pitch at Wankhede on Monday, was pleasantly surprised. "There is quite a bit of grass. It is a good Test wicket. Though it will not be as pacy as Australian wickets, it will help the fast bowlers," he said.

"There will be a lot of tough, difficult times," said the man who has often pulled Australia out of a hole. "If we have the will, we will win."

But whatever the outcome, he promised that the Test series would be a close-fought one that spectators would enjoy.

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