Australia are considering promoting express bowler Brad Williams to their starting team for the second Test with India starting at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

A final decision on the team will not be made until Friday morning but Williams is in line to replace Andy Bichel as part of an Australian ploy to unsettle the Indian batsmen with short-pitched bowling.

Australia captain Steve Waugh said Williams' extra speed would be vital in helping his team rattle the Indian batsmen.

"It's always crucial in Test

matches to take early wickets and put pressure on the middle order batsman," Waugh told a news conference on Thursday.

"India's strength is obviously in the middle order, so taking early wickets is crucial to the outcome of the match."

India surprised Australia by their bold performance in the drawn first Test but Waugh said his team knew what to expect this time.

"We've got to lift our intensity, you'll see a much improved performance from us in this Test match," Waugh said.

"I thought we were below our best. We recognise that and we've talked about and I think you'll see a much more intense and commit-

ted side in this Test match."

India captain Saurav Ganguly said his players were expecting a tougher match but were brimming with confidence after their performance in Brisbane.

"I know they will come hard but that's what Test cricket is all about and we'll have to be up for it," said Ganguly, whose 144 in the opening Test won him the man-of-the-match award.

"We're prepared for this Test. It's a good wicket and we all want to do well.

"For us, going through the first Test overseas and not being one down is important. The first Test is always the key because you get used to the conditions so from that point of view we're pretty much prepared."

While the Australians look likely to beef up their pace attack, India may drop one of their quicks for a second spinner.

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (vicecaptain), Stephen Waugh (captain), Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Brad Williams (12th man to be named).

INDIA: Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Saurav Ganguly (captain), Venkatsai Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble (12th man to be named).

Umpires: David Shepherd (England) Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).