| SYDNEY. Dec 31: EngUnd captain Michael Athertort has aet his batsmen the task 1 of making a competitive first innings score in the third Test against Australia starting on Sunday, reports Reuter.

So far ih the series. England s first innings totals of 167 in Brisbane and 212 in Melbourne have not been big enough to put Australia under pressure.

But with his side now two-nil down in the five-match series. Atherton knows that his batsmen have to collectively find their form if England are to retain any hope of regaining the Ashes.

"We need to score at least 350 or 400 runs in our first Innings and if we can get that, it will change the complexion of the game." said Atherton.

"It will allow our bowlers to run in with a new confidence and aggression and it should reverse the pressure we've been feeling onto the Australian batsmen."

In order to get a big score however. England's players will need to cofne to terms with leg-spinner Shane Wame. who with twenty wickets in two Tests, has established a powerful hold on them.

"Shane Warne s fine bowler and everything that's said about him is true, but our batsmen need to find a way of coping with him." said Atherton.

"We've sat down and discussed how to play him but each batsman,is out there on their own and*they are all good players with Test centuries so they should know what to do." England will make at least one change from the side

which Lost the second Test tn Melbourne by 296 runs on Thursday with Lancashire balsman John Crawley winning his fourth cap in place of vlce-captain Alec SleA'art. who has a broken finger.

Crawley. 23. will be playing his first Test of the tour, after being described by the Australians as the best young player they saw in England in 1993 when he scored a century against them with Warne amongst the attack.

And clearly looking forward

to lacing the master leg-spinner again. Crawley said: 'He should be good fun to play against? '

England are also contemplating including off-spinner Shaun Udal for his debut given Sydney s reputation for helping slow bowling.

But the pitch on the eve of the match was firm and well grassed, so it is more likely that they will stick with the same attack which performed in Melbourne — pace bowlers Darren Gough. Devon Malcolm and Phillip DeFreitas and

spinner Philip Tufnell.

Australia seem certain to retain the side which won So convincingly In Melbourne, which would mean New South Wales seam bowler Glenn McGrath would be twelfth man on his home ground.

And with Just a draw enough to see his side retain the Ashes. Mark Taylor was in buoyant mood after his side practised this morning.

"Were playing very good cricket at the moment and we've got a well-balanced side." he said.

"Our two quick bowlers and the two spinners are all bowling well, and were making runs. England are getting beaten by a very good side which shouldn't be overlooked."

Taylor's main concern is complacency in his side after two comfortable victories and he said: "Cricket can turn around very very quickly as we found when we won the Ashes in 1989 after being down agafnst the West Indies only months before.

"England haven't put us under very much pressure yet but we've got to watch out that we don't allow them to get us Into a tough position."

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA (from): Mark Taylor (captain). Michael Slater. David Boon. Mark Waugh. Michael Bevan. Steve Waugh. Ian Healy. Shane Wame. Craig McDermott. Tim May. Damien Fleming. Glenn McGrath.

ENGLAND (likely): Mike Atherton (captain). Graham Gooch. Graeme Hick, Graham Thorpe. Mike Catting, John Crawley. Steve Rhodes. Phil DeFreitas. Darren Gough. Devon Malcolm. Phil Tufnell. Shaun Udal (12th man).