Aussies, SA begin healing process

Both new Proteas skipper Shaun Pollock and Australia8217;s staunch traditionalist Steve Waugh spoke about the need to turn on a good show for cricket8217;s sake on Tuesday.

It is fitting that World cricket8217;s two best sides should lead the way forward for the other cricket-playing nations to follow.

And it will be played out under the roof of the new Colonial Stadium in the city8217;s docklands precinct catering for a capacity of 48,000 fans cocooned away from Melbourne8217;s raw winter.

Cronje has admitted to the King Commission in to match-fixing that he received thousands of dollars from gamblers and bookmakers on five separate occasions between 1996 and 2000.

Pollock said he felt betrayed8217; by what had happened.

8220;I feel a bit cheated that we had some people in the team who were not trying their all for their country, hopefully now as captain I know everything that8217;s going on in the team,8221; Pollock said.

8220;It8217;s tarnished the game, that8217;s no doubt, and at the end of the day anything that affects our job adversely doesn8217;t sit in the stomach too well. 8220;It is disappointing, but we8217;ve had a long time to think out it and I think it8217;s time to put it to bed and move on positively.8221;

Waugh said he felt short-changed8217; by the Cronje episode.

8220;I feel a bit short-changed by the people that have cheapened the game and the image and the great name of the game for their own good, it8217;s disappointing and the focus has been taken away from the high percentage of guys who are out there trying 100 percent of the time.

8220;It8217;s disappointing that people have put their own personal interest ahead of the game, but we have to get on with the game and make sure that it doesn8217;t happen again.

8220;We have to move forward and we8217;ll put on our best show8230; it8217;s difficult to get over something like that, but we have to play good, positive cricket.8220;All the cricket-playing countries now have an extra incentive to show people that they8217;re giving it their best and that they can believe in their cricketers.8221;

South Africa are coming off this month8217;s tied three-Test match series in Sri Lanka, while Australia are emerging from their off-season, although several players, notably star bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, have been playing county cricket in England.

Waugh admitted he was wrestling with the selection of his team ahead of the first game, while Pollock said his side was basically settled although he would make a couple of bowling changes.

8220;It8217;s a bit of a nightmare at the moment, I don8217;t know who to pick,8221; said Waugh.

8220;The first question I have to work out is whether to play three quicks bowlers or a couple of all-rounders, but that8217;s not an easy question to answer because I8217;m not exactly sure how that wicket8217;s going to play.8221;

Waugh will have to decide whether to use his three-prong pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, or fit his two all-rounders, Andrew Symonds and Shane Lee, into his bowling attack.

Pollock said he was likely to leave out un orthodox spinner Paul Adams and he may use Mornantau Hayward in the attack.

Teams from:
Australia: Stephen Waugh captain, Michael Bevan, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Brett Lee, Shane Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock captain, Mark Boucher, Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Daryll Cullinan, Boeta Dippenaar, Andrew Hall, Mornantau Hayward, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Roger Telemachus, David Terbrugge.

Umpires: Darrell Hair Aus, Simon Taufel Aus.