JAIPUR. India. Mar 2: Richie Richardson s captaincy will be under scrutiny as his West Indies team battle for a World Cup quarterfinal place in their last Group A match against Australia on Monday, reports Reuter.

A sequence of chequered performances in recent months, culminating in a sensational defeat by tournament minnows Kenya on Thursday, has cast doubt on Richardson s - powers of motivation, tactical qualities and ability so*lead irom the front.

The West Indian' skipper who has maintained dignity through the troubled spell, has found his problems compounded by a marked decline in his once accomplished baiting-

Richardson s side are confronted by the prospect of a scramble to reach the know-out stage after only one win. against Zimababwe, in their first four group games. They forfeited their game against Sri Lanka, citing safety fears, and also lost to India.

They are level on two points with Kenya and Zimbabwe but hold fourth place ahead of those two sides in the six-team group by virtue of a better net run rate.

Victory over Australia would almost certainly put West Indies into the last eight, but defeat might mean the last qualifying place in Group A being decided by run rate.

West Indies' current net run rate is -0.27, Kenya have -0,49 and Zimbabwe are on -0.96. The figures are worked out by deducting the overall average runs per over conceded from the average runs per over scored.

Richardson s squad arrived in Jaipur on Saturday to be greeted by a downpour and an overcast sky but may have been reassured by a report on the pitch.

It is a bald wicket properly covered and absolutely dry groundsman Hemendra Sura ria tokl Reuters.

It should help spinners right from the first over, he said. "But it romes slow There's enough time to kill the spin or wait for It It is an easy

wicket for the batsman to

Vest Indies face an Australian side in prime form after lieatfng Kenya. India and Zimbabwe. but having forfeited their game against Sri Lanka, also on seftety grounds.

Opener Mark Waugh, with two- centuries In consecutive ernes against Kenya and India.

s played the dominant batting role while leg-spinner. Shane Warne believes he is hitting peak form at Just the right time.

Previous outings on the easy-packed pitch in the pink city, so .called because of the colour of the buildings, have not been to happy for West Indies.

They suffered ,i 34-run defeat against England during the 1987 World fup and lost by five wickets to India during the one-day series on .their ' 1994 tour.

West Indies may recall pace bowler and useful lower order batsman Ottis Gibson instead of fast bowler Cameron Cuffy. who had a moderate game against Kenya.

Security has been tightened at the stadium as a precaution after a bomb blast in Jaipur during Republic Day celebra-Uona in January.

Sniffer dogs and police with metal detectors are checking for bombs. "Wherever they find a metal, they are digging." a Ticket official said.