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Marsh takes Aussies back to fielding class

Australian cricket coach Geoff Marsh put his Australian team through some tough fielding practise today. The session was apparently necessary after the not-to-sharp showing in the field in Australia's opening World Cup match against lowly Scotland.

As predicted by captain Steve Waugh after Sunday's rusty display, a morning training session before the team left Worcester centred heavily on fielding and catching practice in preparation for Thursday's match against New Zealand at Cardiff.

Against Scotland, the Australians dropped three catches, fumbled with the ball on the ground, and threw poorly as the cricketing minnows put together a flattering total of 181 for 7. They then passed Scotland's total with six wickets in hand.

Though they won comfortably, Marsh wasn't happy. "If it was Pakistan, it might have been a bit different," he said, adding New Zealand – a six-wicket winner over Bangladesh – would also be tough opposition when they meet on Thursday.

Steve Waugh too expressed disappointment over the fielding. "Our fielding was disappointing. I don't think it could get any worse than it did," he said. "We had a chat about it last night, and all the boys came out this morning and worked on it. It's not as if they haven't been doing the work. Let's hope it was one of those days that's come and gone, but we do need to improve. We need to concentrate a bit more. In practice we need to make sure we don't be casual."

Marsh admitted he had pre-match jitters because his side had had a week off in Barbados following last month's West Indies series, and had only two practice games against mediocre English county opposition as a World Cup build-up.
"I guess after spending three weeks in the West Indies, then a week off and the two weeks here, I was wondering how the guys were going to come up first game against Scotland," he said.

Marsh was, however, pleased with Australia's bowling, particularly pacemen Damien Fleming, with 1-19 from nine overs, and Glenn McGrath, who had 1-32 from nine.

The coach was not overly concerned by the bowlers' high number of wides, including the seven from Adam Dale and six from McGrath, in a team total of 22.

Since Pakistan conceded 23 wides and the West Indies 20 in their match, he said it was a sign most bowlers would initially struggle with the unfamiliar white Duke brand balls.

World Cup newcomers Scotland, however, sent down only five wides.