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Waugh names unchanged side for second Test

PORT-OF-SPAIN April 18. Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh backed his batsmen here on Thursday as he revealed an unchanged lineup for the second Test against the West Indies in Trinidad from Saturday.

The visitor leads the four-Test series 1-0 following a nine-wicket win in Guyana last Sunday.

The 37-year-old Waugh will again take five front-line bowlers into the match, with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist remaining at No. 6.

``If we don't get enough runs from that order I don't think it will have anything to do with the makeup of the order,'' Waugh said. ``The guys just wouldn't have done their job.''

Waugh said the dry nature of the pitch helped influence his decision.

``We've had a close look at the wicket and it's looking pretty similar to Guyana,'' Waugh said after team practice on Thursday morning. ``But I'm not sure what it's going to do. I'm certain there's going to be a bit of turn there. It's pretty dry and it might break up. Going in with five bowlers gives us good options.

``I think this pitch will break up more than Guyana just because of the nature of the soil.''

There were similar sentiments from West Indies skipper Brian Lara.

``Trinidad is more of a result track,'' Lara said. ``I've played here all my life and I know the pitch deteriorates third, fourth day. It keeps a bit low and it's not very batsman friendly after a while.'' He said that his young team was ready to bounce back from the loss in Guyana.

``The team is still mentally strong and looking forward to the challenge,'' Lara added. ``We understand that we are playing against the best team in the world and it's not going to take mediocre performances to get on top of them.''

Waugh also warned his team against taking the West Indies lightly despite dominating the opening match.

``It has a promising young side,'' Waugh acknowledged. ``It is one of the Test sides which is improving in world cricket.''

The West Indies has a final workout on Friday morning while the Australians take a day off to rest.

The teams: West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Devon Smith, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carlton Baugh, Vasbert Drakes, Omari Banks, Mervyn Dillon, Tino Best, Marlon Samuels, Pedro Collins, David Bernard.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Martin Love, Ashley Noffke, Michael Clarke, Brad Williams. Umpires: Asoka de Silva, Sri Lanka; Rudi Koertzen, South Africa. Match referee: Mike Procter, South Africa. — AP

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