Aussies get ready for Jamaica match

Anthony Foster, Freelance writer

The touring Australians had a light work-out at Sabina Park yesterday ahead of Friday's opening match against Jamaica at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

The full squad, led by captain Ricky Ponting, spent more than two hours doing drills to free up their legs after spending over 25 hours in the air at the weekend. Media manager, Lucky Patterson, said yesterday was just to stretch the legs after such a long trip.

"We are just having a run around this afternoon," was how he described the work-out. "We were on the plane for the last couple of days, so, we just taking the opportunity to stretch and have a run-a-round," he added.

Important game

Patterson also said Friday's game against Jamaica will be important as they will have an opportunity for some tough match practice . The Digicel Home Series 2008 between West Indies and Australia will have three Test matches (Sabina Park, Jamaica May 22-26), (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (May 30 to June 3), and (Kensington Oval, Barbados (June 12-16). There will be five One-Day Internationals (Arnos Vale, St. Vincent June 24), (Grenada National Stadium, June 27 and 29), (Warner, Park, St. Kitts July 4 and 6)and a Twenty20 International at Kensington Oval, Barbados (June 20).

On arrival on Monday, coach Timothy Nielsen, said all the players were fit and ready to go.

"We had a good training camp in Brisbane and it was really good from my point of view to get the group back together to focus on playing for Australia," he said.