Australia confident of beating Pakistan

Confident Australia captain Steve Waugh on Friday announced three changes to his side for the triangular series final against Pakistan at Lord's.

Pakistan have yet to select their team for Saturday's match but will be able to choose from a full squad, including their most accomplished batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Inzamam missed Pakistan's last game on Tuesday, when they beat the Australians by 36 runs in a day-night encounter at Trent Bridge.

The three changes to the Australia team, who completed their round-robin games by trouncing England by eight wickets at The Oval on Thursday, had been expected.

Opener Matthew Hayden -- whose three scores in the series have been 0, 0 and 8 -- all-rounder Andrew Symonds and pace bowler Damien Fleming were omitted.

In came middle order batsman Damien Martyn, leg-spinner Shane Warne and fast bowler Jason Gillespie.

That gives the Australians their most potent attack, with Warne and Gillespie linking up with pace pair Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

"We are ready for them and we are confident we can win," Waugh said after their final practice session on Friday. "We always get fired up playing at Lord's. We feel comfortable here and enjoy the mystique and tradition of the ground.

"It's just that things are done differently and it's a great place to play cricket," he added.

The two teams met at Lord's in the final of the 1999 World Cup with Australia winning by eight wickets, but Pakistan will not be dwelling on that abject defeat during Saturday's match.

"That final is past. We don't want to go there. Tomorrow is a new game," said captain Waqar Younis.

"We have to play aggressively and positively, but we have the potential to beat any side in the world."

The final will mark former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram's last appearance at Lord's and he said that although he had not been happy with his performances in the series, he was hoping to go out "on a high note".

Akram, who has been hindered by a shoulder injury recently, led Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup final.

"We remember what happened last time here but our confidence is high and the team are playing well," he said.

Teams:

Australia - Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh (captain), Damien Martyn, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan - to be named.

Mail Cricket Editor