MASTER AND PUPIL: West Indies skipper Brain Lara (right) entertaining Australia's Michael Clarke on the eve of their match in Mumbai on Tuesday. — Photo: K.R. Deepak

MUMBAI: Ricky Ponting's Australia is all primed up for a hard grind in a competition it has never won. The celebrated team has been busy making the most of the offerings on and off the field in its favourite Indian city.

Descending at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) a week ago, the players loosened their limbs, honed their skills and soaked up the ruthless heat and humidity for nearly five hours. Apart from the long hours of training, they also locked horns with assorted teams full of first class players.

Meanwhile, Ponting passed on valuable tips to youngsters at a clinic, Adam Gilchrist adopted a boy as a part of World Vision's charity programme and speedsters Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath had their bit of fun with the spectators at the Wankhede and MIG Club.

They had some spare time as well to keep an eye on the action in the tournament that has been far from the spectacular and also an early look at England, before the two rivals compete for the Ashes.

Familiar territory

The Brabourne has been a favourite venue for the Australians since Mark Taylor's men played a warm-up match long ago, though his team lost to Mumbai by lunch time on the third day with Sachin Tendulkar sending Shane Warne on a leather hunting spree.

Thereafter, Steve Waugh and Ponting have expressed their happiness and pleasure at the facilities available at the CCI and have always spend quality time there while preparing for a full series in India.

Pointing may share the view held by other captains about the long gaps between matches, but the delay before Australia's first match has given him advance information about the dubious nature of the Brabourne pitch on which West Indies was bowled out for 80 and South Africa for 108.

Stroke players have failed to come to terms with the pitch, with the only exception being the Black Caps' skipper Stephen Fleming, who used his experience to keep the South African attack at bay.

Abundant talent

However, it's hard to imagine the likes of Gilchrist, Ponting, Damien Martyn — who scored a century against India on a deteriorating surface in the TVS Cup match at the Wankhede a few years ago — Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey coming a cropper against a team whose main spinner is Chris Gayle.

Moreover, the West Indies will be without seamer Corey Collymore, who has returned home to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

The West Indies has the advantage of having played three matches. After being knocked over by Sri Lanka, many of its players let their hair down at a party in the evening and on Monday they walked the ramp at a fashion show, after a work-out at the Wankhede.

Clive Lloyd gave a lot of attention to Dwayne Bravo's batting and finally left-arm seamer Ian Bradshaw sounded optimistic that his team has what it takes to top the group which apart from Australia, has India and England.

Brian Lara's team will have to contend with Lee and McGrath who could prove to be the sharpest thorn in their flesh. Apart from them, Australia has a variety of options in Nathan Bracken, Watson, Symonds and Brad Hogg.

The West Indies will have to play as a cohesive unit in order to upset its rival, whose batting, bowling and fielding works like a well-oiled machine.

The teams:

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt.), Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Simon Katich, Mitchell Johnson and Darren Cullen.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt.), Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, Marlon Samuels, Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor and Runako Morton.

Umpires: Mark Benson (England) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa); Third umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan); Fourth umpire: Samir Bandekar (India); Match Referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).

Hours of play: 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 6:45 p.m. till close.

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