Australia face undemanding opener against Scotland

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 14 (Reuters) Champions Australia open their World Cup campaign today against a Scotland side who have not won a match in five previous attempts and concede they are only playing for pride.

Groundsman Keith Arthurton, who played 33 tests and 105 one-day internationals for the West Indies, has prepared a pitch which looks full of runs with the possibility of some early life in the opening Group A match. South Africa, the new world number one side, and the Netherlands are the other teams in the group.

''It looks a very good wicket,'' Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath told reporters. ''We will probably bat first. It's a game where you have a basic game plan and adjust as you go along.'' Australia, who plan to name their side after examining the pitch on Wednesday, will include opener Matthew Hayden who is returning after injury.

Left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg will handle the slow bowling duties while all-rounder Andrew Symonds continues to recuperate after tearing his right bicep muscle.

''It's the biggest one-day event you play,'' captain Ricky Ponting told reporters. ''For some it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I've been lucky, this is my fourth so I know what it's like to win a World Cup.

Scotland's best-known players are Gavin Hamilton, who played one test for England and scored two half-centuries at the 1999 World Cup, and Dougie Brown who played nine one-day internationals for England.

''Gavin is in a great frame of mind at the moment, he's really committed, he's trained very, very hard over the last six to eight months,'' Australian-born coach Peter Drinnen told reporters.

Today's other match features Canada against Kenya in a Group C match in St Lucia.

Canada's former West Indies' pace bowler Anderson Cummins is set to become only the second man to play in two World Cups at the age of 40.

Cummins is also one of only five men to feature in a 1992 and 2007 squad.

''I still feel I can contribute to this team and add value. If I wasn't passionate I wouldn't be here,'' he told Reuters.

Kenya will be banking on some hefty World Cup experience of their own.

Captain Steve Tikolo is 35 and played in the last three World Cups, including 2003's stunning run to the semi-finals.

REUTERS SAM SSC1100