NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Australia look to reaffirm top-dog status

Australia aim to reaffirm their status as the world's top test cricket team when they take on Pakistan in the first test in Brisbane tomorrow.

The Australians won their last test match against Zimbabwe in October, but were beaten 1-0 in a three-test series in Sri Lanka just before that. The series was marred by seasonal showers.

The Aussies take on a Pakistan side which has struggled for form ever since arriving in Australia last week. They have lost all their three tour games so far.

They have also been rocked by allegations from Western Australia umpiring chief Rick Evans about pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar's suspect action.

The two teams last met in the final of the world cup in June when Australia thrashed a disappointing Pakistan team at the Lords.

Australian captain Steve Waugh told reporters yesterday that he would probably ignore his usual policy of batting first if he won the toss because he thought Pakistan's top order was vulnerable against pace, particularly on Brisbane's hard, fast Gabba wicket.

'Pakistan are a little bit underdone in regards to test match cricket and tough four- and five-day cricket, so that will come into calculations tomorrow when we toss,'' Waugh said.

Queensland's Scott Muller is likely to make his test debut tomorrow and join Damien Fleming and Glenn McGrath in the bowling department. Off-spinner Colin Miller would then be relegated to 12th man's position.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne, who has an excellent record at the Gabba ground, will be the fourth front-line Australian bowler.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist replaces Ian Healy to make his debut for Australia tomorrow.

Pakistan, who have yet to name their 12, will have to decide whether to play two spinners in Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed, or to use just one spinner and play an extra batsman. They will have to keep in mind their brittle top order before picking the final eleven.

Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed has banned his players from talking to the media before the test, but Akhtar defended his bowling action in a daily newspaper.

''I don't want to say anything about it because there is nothing wrong,'' he said in the Daily Telegraph. ''It has been tough for me. I haven't played cricket since the world cup. I have been sick and I have been sore with my shoulder. But I have got my rhythm back and I'm ready to fire.''

The teams:

Australia - Steve Waugh (captain), Michael Slater, Greg Blewett, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Fleming, Shane Warne, Colin Miller, Scott Muller, Glenn McGrath (12th man to be named).

Pakistan (probable 12) - Wasim Akram (captain), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzaman-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Mohammad Wasim, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, SaqlainMushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar.

UNI