Bracken awaits inspiration from his mother-in-law

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, Mar 9 (Reuters) Australia and New South Wales left-arm pace bowler Nathan Bracken attracted instant media attention when he took seven for four against South Australia three years ago.

Astonishment turned to incredulity when Bracken told reporters his mother-in-law Lenore Rich had predicted his analysis. ''She has premonitions about things,'' he explained.

More pertinently, when Bracken was out of sorts and out of contract with the Australian Cricket Board, Lenore gave him some down-to-earth advice.

She told Bracken to perform for his country, if he got the chance again, in the same way he bowled for his state.

Bracken took the advice to heart and he is now set to take the new ball in the World Cup starting next week in the absence of the injured Brett Lee.

NO PROPHECIES On the eve of today's final World Cup warm-up match against England, Bracken told reporters he had received no prophecies from Lenore so far.

''Not yet,'' he said. ''I'm hoping she rings me up and says 'you're going to get this and that'. No, there's nothing as yet.

''She told me that same thing she always does, it's the same thing that Troy (bowling coach Cooley) tells me. 'Go out there, back yourself, back the decisions you make' and I guess when you always hear it from coaches you start taking it for granted.

''When you hear from it somebody different, it tends to sink in. It just gives you that confidence that somebody else believes in what you do.'' Bracken was one of the more impressive bowlers in the 106-run win over Zimbabwe on Tuesday and his left-armer's line and variations of pace and swing should make him an important member of the world champions' lineup on pitches where the faster bowlers are likely to struggle.

''The pitches are slow but that's what we expected over here,'' he said. ''I guess it's not like Australia where some come through.

''You have got to adapt to the conditions and we'll assess it when we get there and see what it's like. It is somewhere where a change of pace is key.'' Bracken said Lee would be missed but added there was still plenty of quality in the attack.

''In the worst-case scenario I will probably be opening with Glenn McGrath who is probably one of the best one-day bowlers we have had,'' he said.

''He could be there, it could be Shaun Tait, it could be Mitchell Johnson, it could be Stuart Clark. It's good to have those options that we have got.

''Basically anybody can do a job, they're all here, they can all do their job. Now it's about going out there and doing it.'' REUTERS SY VC0950