NAIROBI. Oct 9 • Internet rejwrti The fledgling members of world Ticket’s expanding family. Kenya and Bangladesh, are beginning to grow up. but Australian captain Steve Waugh says they will not become healthy and prosperous unless the International Cricket Council gives them the proper parental support.

Waugh's team flew out of Nairobi for Australia last night as disappointing first-game losers. Hie ICC Knockout tournament in the Kenyan capital having made mon- of an impression on them than they did on it

The tournament - w'hlch brings together the nine established Test-playing nations, the home side and Test new chum Bangladesh - Is an impressive gesture towards nurturing the game so that it might continue to expand its influence.

Waugh, an avid student of cricket's history and a broad thinker on its future horizons, is impn'ssed with the concept of the tournament and (be goals it represents, but he fears it may be a token gesture tf the game s ripening fruit is left to whither

It s a great Idea. (The teams) arc under pressure. If you're not up to scratch, you miss out and vou're on the plcne on the wav home, which ' • are." Waugh said.

"I think fi really good concept It’s dilierent for one-day cricket and It certainly means a lot to the players.

I think It’s well-organised, and it’s great to s»-r sides like Kenya playing, and Bangladesh

"I just ho|x: they get enough support (o stay up to standard and keep improving because they've got a huge amount of talent these sides." Bangjadesli face tlie similar problem of newt omers when they make their Test debut against India in Dhaka on December 10.

Waugh welcomes tlie inclusion of Bangladesh on the Test scene but, as their loss to England In the first round of the ICC Knockout demonstrated, they may lack serious bowling flre-power in the five-day game

Bangladesh made a compe-ten! 8/232 from their 50 overs but broke through for just two wic kets as England dispatched their medium-pacers at will.

Waugh might have been joking when he said Sachin Tendulkar would score 400 if lie goi his head down in Bangladesh's debut Test, but his concerns are real.

"Their batting is very good, they were very impressive against England with their batting." Waugh said. "(Their) bowling they might struggle a bit, but they've got to play to their limitations. They've obviously got to bowrl a Une and length and back it up with some solid fielding, and their spinners have got to do some good work for them.

"They'll be competitive, but It's going to be hard for the first couple of years because they haven't played a lot cricket and they’re not used to that tough Test-match atmosphere. But you’ve got to start somewhere

"It's going to be a hard one first up against the likes of Ganguly. Dravid and Tendulkai They’re going to find It hard work, but good luck to them

Waugh was unwilling to discuss the processes of the ICC that led to the Inclusion ol Bangladesh on the Test scene but said (hat. having made the derision, (he game's ruling body has to ensure that It works

f.vrrx boatd \ois anil I (hmk it s pretty clear ih.it thev wauled Bangladesh In wot hl Ticket."

Waugh said. "You've got keep expanding the game, but I think it s important that If vou'n; going lo Invite these teams In you've go( to give them some support and they've got to have an infra-structun- and (hry'vr got to have a lot cricket for their plavers to develop "