In his first media appearance since arriving in Guyana on Wednesday nigh, ahead of the Cable & Wireless four-Test series starting next Thursday at Bourda, Waugh said the facilities in the region are much different from those in Australia. The crowds will be very much on the West Indies side “and we’ve got to work harder. It’s not a place you can just come and just expect to win.

Waugh however pointed out that “this time we are obviously clear favourites and I don’t mind that, as we have got a good side and people expect us to play well and we expect to play well.”

The Australians, who will be without ace fast bowler Glenn McGrath and middle-order batsman Damien Martyn for contrasting reasons, opted not to practise yesterday as was planned, and according to Waugh they have got enough experience and the warm-up three-day game against the West Indies Cricket Board Carib Beer XI, starting tomorrow, will be good enough for his players.

McGrath, who returned to Australia to be with his wife Jane, who has again been diagnosed with cancer, is being replaced by paceman Brad Williams while Martyn has been ruled out of the Test series due to a fractured right index finger. It is expected that a replacement for the Western Australian will be named shortly.

Waugh told the briefing that although he would rather have McGrath in the Caribbean, he’s not too concerned as there are other bowlers who could do the job and his absence presents a good opportunity for someone else to play a Test match and see what they are made of.

Branding McGrath a quality bowler, Waugh pointed out “they’re some good bowlers around and someone would step in …”

Waugh said Australia were faced with a similar situation in 1999 when their leading fast bowler then, Craig McDermott, got injured prior to the start of the Guyana leg of the tour and was forced to return home. It was then the turn of McGrath to step up and he did the job well so it’s someone else’s opportunity this time around.

“Martyn will be missed of course, he’s a quality player and he’s had a great couple of years, but he’s not here, so there’s no point worrying about him. All the batters could bat in different positions. We’ll have to settle that before the Test match and we’ll work that out before the tour game, a confident Waugh assured.

The Australian captain said both Darren Lehmann and Martin Love could fill the number four slot left vacant by Martyn.

Waugh hinted that the Australians will more than likely stick to their policy of employing three pacers and one spinner as a general rule in their Test side regardless of whatever surfaces they play on “because we back our quick bowlers to do the damage, no matter what pitches they play on.” He warned that both Brett Lee and Gillespie are quick through the air and the pitches don’t matter.

Vice-captain Ricky Ponting, who led Australia to their second successive World Cup title, disclosed that it was a big thing triumphing in the just-concluded tournament but that’s forgotten now “as we are in the West Indies and have got to focus on what’s ahead.

“Changing from one-day to Test sure’s going to be different but we are all professionals and we will be up and ready for the first Test match,” Ponting boasted.