And welcome to Nine Sport. Pakistan and Australian team managers are confident
the Gabba pitch for Friday's second test has had the right preparation.
Pakistan manager Intercarb Alarm saw the wicket this morning, although it was
covered when Australian manager John Edwards arrived at the ground this
afternoon, a quick look underneath and satisfaction came up trumps. The
Pakistanis had their first practice session this morning and it didn't take
long for Intercarb to take a look at the Gabba strip. With all the news about the
wicket over the last few days, Intercarb wanted to have a look for himself and as
far as he's concerned it's not underprepared. Looking at the wicket at the
moment it looks alright. Probably what they need is a good sunshine you know on
the wicket, a little bit moisture in the wicket and I don't think it helps either
when you're playing a four-day match and the groundsman got a job to prepare a
test wicket he doesn't get much time either. Does it look unprepared to you?
Looking at now I don't think so because when we came here to play our first two
games I mean it was a similar sort of a you know look on the wicket and I think
we need a good weather you know another day to go you know. You think the
Australians are going with the full pace of prong or they play a spinner? Again I
feel that they might go with four seamers anyway. The Australians arrived
for their session at 2.30 and by that time curator Kevin Mitchell had the
wicket under cover. Australian manager John Edwards had a quick look and all is
well. Well we're always confident of getting a good wicket here I thought I'm
pretty certain that I've never seen a better test wicket than one we played on
here last year in the first test against England, second test against England. Is
it always a good track at the Gabba? Yes always a great test wicket. I can't see
any reason why I should be any different this time. Has yourself or Kim Hughes had a
look under the covers on this pitch? No we've I just had a look and saw about six
inches and I just put the hand in that's firm and it's good and I've got no doubt
I've got the utmost confidence in the curator here. Both teams will have their
final practice sessions tomorrow with Pakistan waiting till Friday to name
their side. West Australian Elizabeth Sayers continued her winning way at
White City today to gain a place in the quarterfinals of the New South Wales
Open. The 20 year old says yesterday knocked out number one seed Hanna Manila
Kovar and is now the only Australian left in the singles title. It was
American Sherry Acker who fell into Elizabeth today to give the Australian a
quarterfinal berth. Aggressive, a real shot maker, Elizabeth cut her teeth on
grass court tennis at home in Perth but for all her talent it's been mostly
first, second round losses with the odd quarterfinal. I've always known that I've
had the game to do very well. It's just a matter of putting everything together
consistently over a period of time. I've always been able to come out and have
good wins like I had yesterday but whereas maybe two years ago I would have
gone out lost today. Because of late withdrawals Elizabeth got a crack in the
tournament which has been described as one of no names. However it could prove
for Elizabeth the linchpin for bigger and better things especially as she is
the only Australian left. I mean out of all the tournaments only 16 girls left so
there's a good chance that there's not going to be an Australian anyway so no I
don't really think about that too much I mean if I win I win and I mean it's nice
playing in front of the crowd so I've never I've never done well in Sydney but
the crowd seemed to like me so. Engaged to be married next year Elizabeth says
right now the most important thing on her mind is the computer rankings and not
the big day. Her next opponent is Puerto Rican Gigi Fernandez who only turned
professional two weeks ago. Now it's time to look at today's TAB results and
firstly the Brisbane Treble the numbers were 5 1 & 1 it paid $48.25