October 18 Friday 2002
Australia expect stronger play from Pakistan

SHARJAH: Australia is aiming for a clean sweep of its three-Test series against Pakistan, but expects its opponent to give it a better run for its money in the final Test beginning Saturday. "No, we don't think it (Pakistan's collapse) will happen again,'' Australian team manager Steve Bernard said on Thursday. In the second Test, Pakistan was bowled out for record lows of 59 and 53 in Sharjah, crashing to an innings and 198 run defeat inside two days at the hands of the world champions. 

The Australians are overwhelming favorites to win the series 3-0, having won the first Test in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo by 41 runs. But they are not taking the Pakistanis for granted in the final five-day encounter. "They will regroup and, as they showed in the first Test, they are capable of doing better,'' Bernard said of the 
Pakistanis. 

For the final Test, Pakistan will be reinforced by the flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who replaces the injured Abdul Razzaq, and by the recovery of wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, who had muscle and ligament problems in the second Test. 

Delighted with the awesome all-round show of his team in the second Test, Bernard said it was not the best he has seen from the Australians. 

"I thought the players did very well and it was a very good performance. But I have seen the team stretched in other Tests and win.'' 

Bernard said that the pressure on the Waugh twins, captain Steve and Mark, was nothing to worry about. 

"Everyone's under pressure and that's the name of the game. Certainly they (Steve and Mark) will be looking for runs in the Test,'' he said. 

Australia's 32-year-old paceman Glenn McGrath is also aiming to get the four wickets needed to become only the eighth bowler in Test history to reach the 400-wicket mark. Along with fellow pacemen Adam Bichel and Brett Lee, and leg spinner Shane Warne, McGrath caused havoc with the Pakistani batting in the second Test last week. 
"Everyone bowled well, while Bichel was the only one who could bowl six overs on the trot, which shows his fitness,'' said captain Steve Waugh. 

Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis has promised a better performance from his young and inexperienced team as the country marks its 50th anniversary of Test cricket this week. "What happened in the second Test cannot be reversed, but we are now focused on what lies ahead and we have to work really hard to come back with a far improved performance,'' said the experienced speedster.