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Waugh slams 38-hour, five-nation flight

Australian captain Steve Waugh slammed an airline sponsorship deal today that forced his team to arrive exhausted in Zimbabwe after a 38-hour flight from Sri Lanka through five countries.

Waugh hinted he might refuse to embark on any more such marathon trips.

''I actually thought it was Wednesday but someone told me it was Thursday so that about sums it up at this stage. I don't know but it will probably see me out; any more trips like this will see me out,'' Waugh said.

''It's ridiculous. It is silly because the jet lag is really bad for me, I can't sleep on the plane. It takes me seven to 10 days to get over it and that's when the Test match finishes so to me it doesn't make sense,'' Waugh said on arrival.

The airline sponsorship deal resulted in the squad travelling for more than 38 hours through five countries to get to Bulawayo from Sri Lanka, where Australia lost a rain-affected Test series 1-0.

After the frustrating tour of Sri Lanka, the World Cup champions face a 20-day tour in Zimbabwe that will include a one-off Test and three one-day internationals.

With the arrival of Australia, only the West Indies have not toured the newest Test-playing nation.

Australia will prepare for the Test with a three-day match against a President's XI in Bulawayo starting tomorrow.

Waugh and new coach Allan Border -- who arrived from Australia on Thursday -- presided over a leisurely practise session on Friday morning before a visit to a wildlife sanctuary in the afternoon and an early night.

''The main thing we have to do is try and recover so there won't be an overdose of training if we are not feeling well,'' Waugh said.

''We are not going to do too much. Our whole tour revolves around the Test match (beginning in Harare on Thursday) and how we can best prepare for that.''

Australia are likely to play seamer Matthew Nicholson, a late arrival in the squad, in a full strength line-up against the President's XI, leaving players like Stuart McGill and Simon Katich the prospect of playing just one match in three months on tour since leaving Australia.

''Realistically there are some guys here that won't play again. They might not play the Test and in seven or eight weeks they haven't played any cricket. It's hard for those guys but there's not much else you can do,'' Waugh said.

''I feel as if I haven't batted myself; none of the guys have really had much cricket so we have got to prepare for the Test match by picking the guys you think are going to play in the Test,'' he said.

UNI