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Steve Waugh wary of upbeat Zimbabwe

Steve Waugh's Australians are braced to combat a Zimbabwe side that is fired up to make the most of a rare opportunity in the inaugural Test between the two teams starting today.

Like the seven other countries to have played the African side, Australia may not have things all their own way in the one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club.

It has taken seven years for Australia to find a gap in their schedule for a Test against Zimbabwe, leaving just West Indies as the only side not to have met the newest Test nation over five days.

Despite a miserable preceding tour of Sri Lanka in which Australia suffered persistent rain and defeat in both Tests and one-day internationals, captain Waugh remains upbeat about the 20-day tour of Zimbabwe.

Taking both a long term view as well as an immediate one, Waugh said: ''It is important that the top Test-playing nations play against the newer ones and give them experience.

''It's good for us, too, to play against Zimbabwe. Some of us might never get the opportunity again, so it sort of rounds off the career.

''I think Zimbabwe deserve it, they're a good cricket side now. They've played some excellent games and they have a talented squad. Actually it's going to be a very good Test match,'' Waugh said.

The home side will be relying on team spirit and a collective ''will'' rather than brilliant individual performances to be competitive against the world's best side.

Waugh, as always, has done his reseach and is aware of what to expect.

''They'll be fired up, it's a big opportunity for them. They work well together as a team, they haven't got any brilliant individuals but they field well, and they're a pretty good batting side,'' Australia's skipper observed.

Indeed, Grant Flower is a proven Test opener, his brother Andy averages 43.5 in 33 Tests and Murray Goodwin, Zimbabwe-born but Perth-raised, averages 53 in nine Tests.

Former South Africa 'A' team all-rounder Neil Johnson is well known to the Australians after his scintillating, unbeaten 132 against them at Lord's during the World Cup.

The local bowling options are far more limited, though, with only Henry Olonga being genuinely fast. Heath Streak is still recovering after knee surgery three months ago while left armer Bryan Strang and Johnson are worthy medium pacers.

In the absence of both leg-spinners -- Paul Strang is injured and Adam Huckle is needed on the farm -- Zimbabwe may play off-spinner Andy Whittall or even leave the job to part time left-armer Grant Flower.

Teams:
Zimbabwe (from): Andy Flower, Gavin Rennie, Trevor Gripper, Murray Goodwin, Alistair Campbell (captain), Andy Flower, Neil Johnson, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak, Andy Whittall, Bryan Strang, Henry Olonga, David Mutendera.

Australia (likely): Michael Slater, Greg Blewett, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (captain), Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Colin Miller, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath.

UNI