Cricket: Rampant Australians mark Indian trip as crunch test

SYDNEY - Australia's historic 5-0 demolition of the once-mighty West Indies was just a warm-up for even greater challenges that lie ahead, says captain Steve Waugh.

Waugh's team completed their first 5-0 series win over any country in 79 years in taking the final test in Sydney on Saturday.

But the ever-practical Waugh was quick to put a lid on the team's celebrations.

"The West Indies was an important series but the Indian series will be the big one and the one we'll be judged on."

Australia in recent years have beaten every major cricket-playing nation in the world both home and away but have not won a series in India for 30 years.

And although Australia will defend the Ashes in England this year, Waugh said their upcoming three-test tour of India was the team's biggest challenge.

Australia's 5-0 demolition of the West Indies was thorough and swift. The West Indies did boast some major firepower in batsman Brian Lara and fast bowler Courtney Walsh but not enough to worry a rampant Australian team that had already had 10 test wins in a row against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and New Zealand.

They sealed the series by winning the third test in Adelaide, despite a brilliant 182 from Lara, then completed a 5-0 whitewash after Waugh blasted centuries in Melbourne and Sydney.

Meanwhile, Shane Warne was recalled to Australia's limited-overs line-up and Jason Gillespie was ruled out when selectors announced two teams for upcoming international series.

Australia will play the West Indies and Zimbabwe in a one-day series starting on Thursday.

Australia A, the second-string line-up, will take on the West Indies today in Adelaide and Zimbabwe in Brisbane three days later.

Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Nathan Bracken, Ian Harvey, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh.

Australia A: Simon Katich (capt), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Greg Blewett, Brad Hodge, Shane Lee, Wade Seccombe, Andy Bichel, Stuart MacGill, Adam Dale, Damien Fleming, Paul Wilson.

- REUTERS