Waugh blasts Pakistan pitch-doctoring talk

COLOMBO - Steve Waugh lashed out at Pakistan counterpart Waqar Younis' pitch-doctoring talk on the eve of the three Test series starting in Colombo tomorrow.

Pakistan brought its own staff to supervise preparation of the pitch for the first Test, which is being played at a neutral venue after Australia declined to tour Pakistan for security fears.

And Waqar's comment suggested his team hoped to enjoy the advantage of Pakistan-style conditions at Colombo Oval, the oldest ground in Sri Lanka, in what's officially a home series.

"We've got our management here preparing the wicket so hopefully they'll prepare a wicket that suits us," Waqar told a press conference.

The remark stunned Australian captain Waugh who suggested some action should be taken against the Pakistan skipper.

"I think it's a little bit strange when the captain's made these comments and nothing's said about it," Waugh said.

"I know if I said that it would raise a few eyebrows and create a few headlines."

Home teams in cricket - like host nations in Davis Cup tennis - invariably get conditions to suit themselves but often that's a product of the soil conditions and climate.

For a side to go out of its way to prepare a surface which favoured it was abhorrent to Waugh.

"I don't agree with it. I think you should play cricket on the best possible pitch.

"I've never, ever asked for a pitch to suit us and I don't know any Australian in my time who's done that and I don't see why it should be done overseas."

Waugh rejected the notion of unspoken acceptance that the home side gets what it wants.

"If it is, it's wrong because you're supposed to play Test cricket on the best pitch available.

"If they're going to make pitches to suit the home team then the opposition should have a choice of what to do at the toss."

Waqar's comments implied Pakistan wanted a spin-friendly deck - especially after it saw Australia's struggles against spin in India last year and again in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Sri Lanka here.

Waugh said an ideal Test wicket would suit fast bowling early then flatten out to a good batting strip before taking spin and creating low bounce on the last day.

"That way everyone gets an opportunity. Test cricket is about giving everyone a chance to do well at that level rather than one certain type of player."

Pakistan will likely play both off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and 21-year-old legspinner Danish Kaneria, who has an impressive 38 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 21.42.

"Kaneria bowled very well against the West Indies in a practice game and Saqlain is back so we have our spinning force going good," Waqar said.

Waugh indicated Australia would stick to its proven arsenal of quick bowlers, with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee expected to join Shane Warne in the attack.

"I think we can do some damage with the quicks," Waugh said. Australia's batting is settled, with Darren Lehmann to be omitted.

However, the South Australian will be waiting in the wings if either Steve or Mark Waugh have another bad series.

The brothers, having been axed from the one-day side and failing to produce big scores last summer, are under pressure to make runs or relinquish their place in the side.

"Nothing's guaranteed, we realise that after last season," Steve Waugh said.

"Things can be very final and can happen very quickly."

The brothers, who have played 105 Tests together and 273 between them, admitted they needed to score runs after historically going without a century between them in last summer's nine Tests.

The likely teams for the match, which starts at 10.30am (2.30pm AEST) are:

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Imran Nazir, Taufeeq Umar, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Akhtar.