Waugh pleased with batting

Kunal Pradhan

Australian captain Steve Waugh said that he is happy to see his batsmen hit form at just the right time after his team piled up 413 in a day's play against the Indian Board President's XI on Tuesday.

Both Waugh and Ricky Ponting helped themselves to stylish hundreds, while the captain's twin brother Mark pitched in with a solid 62.

The second Test in the three-Test series begins in Calcutta next Sunday.

"We all just wanted to go out there and spend some time in the middle, which is crucial leading up to a Test match," Waugh told reporters.

"You need to be in good form and for that you need to play your shots. I think we did that pretty well today."

Waugh said he is particularly happy to see Ponting strike form.

"It was nice to see Ponting bat well today. He missed out in the last three innings so he was pleased to get some time at the crease," Waugh said.

Ponting scored a fifty in both innings against a local side in their first tour match in Nagpur but had failed to get among the runs in his last two games.

Waugh noted the wicket at the Ferozshah Kotla ground was very flat and easy to bat on and said his team's effort would have translated to around 300 runs on an Australian strip.

"It's a bit of a bowlers nightmare out there but we'll try and get something out of it when we bowl tomorrow," Waugh said.

BOWLERS RESTED

Australia have rested their main strike bowlers, pacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie and leg spinner Shane Warne for this match.

The three were instrumental in Australia's 10-wicket win over India in the first Test at Bombay last week.

However, a masterful 122 from vice-captain Adam Gilchrist which lifted Australia from 99 for five in the first innings proved to be the major turning-point of the match.

Gilchrist is not playing in the current match because of a muscle strain in his left hip but Waugh said he was confident the left-hander would be fit in time for the second test.

"I think Adam will play the test match. He's just got a slight strain in one of his hip muscles but it seems to be under control and I'll be very surprised if he doesn't play the test," Waugh said.

Waugh acknowledged there was a bit of concern about the form of opener Michael Slater, who has yet to score a fifty after three matches in India.

Slater scored only 19 on Tuesday.

"When you're going on a tour there's always going to be one or two guys who miss out," Waugh said.

"Slater got a bit of form in the first test. But he's a big big match player. He's got 14 test hundreds and he knows how to do it.

"I'm sure he'll be looking to have a good bat in the second innings."

Mail Cricket Editor