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'Ware Windies, says Steve Waugh

Australia's captain in waiting, Steve Waugh, expects the West Indies to hit back hard after their South African humiliation when they host the Aussies later this month.

Waugh says three reasons make him wary of the Windies, despite their 5-0 Test loss to South Africa.

He said the series is possibly a swansong for fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, the West Indies perform better at home and they love nothing more than beating Australia.

Waugh, who is expected to be named as Australia's 40th Test captain on Friday, said recent performances would mean little when the first of four Tests starts at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on March Five.

"It's definitely more of a dangerous time than a good time to be playing them,'' Waugh said today. "They'll be very keen to play well against us because we were the ones who took the crown off them a couple of years back.

"They always play better at home, it could be the last series at home for Ambrose and Walsh ... and with blokes like Brian Lara and Carl Hooper, they've still got a very good side.''

The Windies' South African tour was a disaster from start to finish.

They were embroiled in a pay dispute with the Windies board that threatened the tour going ahead, performed woefully to lose the Test series by a shutout and the and the limited overs matches 6-1, as well as losing Walsh and Ambrose with injuries.

Questions are now being asked about Lara's captaincy as well.

"They just seemed a little bit disjointed,'' Waugh felt.

"Their batting wasn't good enough but they still bowled South Africa out a few times.

"To me, they've still got five very good quick bowlers and that makes any side dangerous.''

Waugh said touring the Windies was an unforgettable experience because of the singing, dancing, drum-beating enthusiasm of the crowds.

"I really enjoy playing there, the people love their cricket because it's a way of life for them,'' Waugh said.

"It's like a day out for them and there's a carnival atmosphere, particularly in Barbados and Antigua, places like that.''

Waugh said he was confident his injured hamstring would recover in time for the first tour match at St Johns, Antigua, from February 22-24.