Australia looking forward to Dutch bowling

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 17 (Reuters) Australia will eye the short boundaries at Warner Park and the Dutch bowling with equal enthusiasm tomorrow in their second World Cup Group A match.

South Africa rewrote the record books yesterday during their 221-run win over the Netherlands with Herschelle Gibbs hitting six sixes in an over and Mark Boucher scoring the fastest World Cup half-century.

''It's just so small a ground,'' captain Ricky Ponting said at his pre-match news conference yesterday. ''I mishit a few the other day on to the top of the grandstand.'' Australia possess at least three of the most destructive batsmen in the tournament including Ponting, who stuck 113 in the opening match against Scotland, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

One small bone of comfort for the Netherlands is the likely absence of all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who is still recovering from a torn right biceps muscle.

''He's coming along really well but I still think he will be fairly doubtful for the Netherlands' game,'' Ponting said.

In Symonds's absence Australia look certain to play the side who defeated Scotland by 203 runs with pace bowlers Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson again joining reserve wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on the sidelines.

''I don't think we will be mixing and matching too much during the tournament,'' Ponting said. ''I think we are fairly close to knowing what our best eleven players are.'' Australia held an optional practice this afternoon, following the Dutch side into the nets, with Symonds bowling some gentle off-spin then hitting freely against two local bowlers.

Dutch captain Luuk van Troost told reporters the team for Sunday would be decided later in the day.

Asked if he would again ask the opposition to bat if he won the toss, van Troost smiled and replied: ''I don't want another record.'' Teams: Australia (probable) - Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.

The Netherlands (from) - Luuk van Troost (captain), Peter Borren, Tim de Leede, Mark Jonkman, Mohammad Kashif, Alexei Kervezee, Adeel Raja, Darron Reekers, Edgar Schiferli, Jeroen Smits, Billy Stelling, Eric Szwarczynski, Ryan ten Doeschate, Daan van Bunge, Bas Zuiderent.

REUTERS PDS PM0048