COLOMBO, 3 October — Even before a ball could be bowled in the first cricket Test between Pakistan and Australia, their captains were involved yesterday in an exchange of verbal bouncers on the eve of the match here.

Australia’s Steve Waugh is unhappy at the Saravanamuttu Stadium pitch and told Australian journalists it was unfair to prepare a pitch favoring one team.

However, when asked by me how the pitch was, Steve Waugh said: "It is a good pitch." When asked whether there was any grass on it he replied: "You go and have a look at it there." He was obviously not happy about the strip as he and Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns returned after having a look at the pitch.

Pakistan’s Waqar Younis was quick to retort. "Is Steve Waugh scared to say such a thing. There is no need for him to get upset. I know he is under tremendous pressure to do well," Waqar said.

He added that even though the Test was being played at a neutral venue, the match was part of a home series for Pakistan and as such Pakistan was entitled to get a pitch prepared to suit its strength as is done by any home country.

"We have not brought our curator. It is the local groundsman who is preparing the pitch," Waqar added. He repeated that his side was mainly composed of youngsters who lacked experience.

"We have young players who have not played for a while but they are very talented. You will see a spark on the ground," he added.

"I hope by the time the 2003 World Cup comes around, we will have two or three players ready to take over," said Waqar whose tenure as captain has been extended till the World Cup.

He said he had a long discussion with Pakistan Cricket Board chief Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia who was here to attend the executive board meeting of the International Cricket Council.

"Yes, I am aware of Gen. Zia’s statement that there would be no more neutral Test series. After all there has been no international cricket at our grounds and we need to play at home," Waqar said.

Pakistan are depleted by the absence of four of their top stars. Fast bowler Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar have opted out of the series. Middle order batsmen Inzamam ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhanna are sidelined due to injuries.

Pakistan have a competent pace attack comprising "Rawalpindi Express" Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar himself and Abdur Razzaq.

However, they are likely to rely on their wily off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to exploit Australia’s weakness to play spin as was done recently by the Sri Lankans who had restricted them to just 162 runs in the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy.

As for their batting, left-handed opener Taufeeq Umar is likely to be partnered by either Imran Nazir or Imran Farhat, with Younis Khan and Misbah ul-Haq to follow.

Faisal Iqbal or Imran Farhat will fill the last batting spot and allrounder Abdur Razzaq will follow.

Australia’s strength lies in their batting and someone of the caliber of Adam Gilchrist bats lower down at No. 7.

Openers Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer are to be followed by Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn.

This is indeed a formidable batting lineup.

In bowling, their troika of pacemen — Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee — can send a chill down the spine of most batsmen.

But McGrath is the most dangerous of the three.

He is aware of the young Pakistani batsmen he is going to bowl to.

"Yes, the Pakistani team has many young batsmen. But their players, if they are good, they are very very good and if they are bad, they are very very bad," McGrath said.

Both sides have delayed naming their final elevens till the morning of the match.

The pitch looks very hard though it is shorn of grass and is likely to be a sporting one.

It will be a tricky toss to win and it will be interesting to see what Waqar opts for if he gets lucky with the coin.