Aussies get set to beat the heat

Australia's cricketers are testing ice vests as a way of beating the heat on their three-Test tour of India starting later this month.

Australia are due to name their squad this week and will fly to India on February 13. The first test starts on February 27.

Australian players wore ice vests over their shirts during a drinks break in their limited overs international match against Zimbabwe in Perth on Sunday in temperatures around 35C.

The vests for the Indian tour will be designed to match the Australian kit so they can be worn on the field.

In the Madras tied Test of 1986, Australian Dean Jones was at the crease for eight hours in a knock of 210. He lost four kgs and needed three bottles of saline in hospital after pushing himself to a near life-threatening level.

Australian captain Steve Waugh said the vests would also be used if the side encountered any hot days during this week's limited overs finals series against West Indies, which starts in Sydney on Wednesday.

"We'll take them over there (to India) and see if they work," Waugh told reporters.

"We've got two lead-up matches and if they make the guys cool down and feel better about themselves we'll probably use them."

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath said Waugh's intention to steamroller the Indians with pace meant his new-ball colleagues would have a heavy work rate during the Tests and one-dayers.

"India has a humid heat and the vests will really help if you can wear them for an over or two to cool down," McGrath told reporters.

McGrath may have to work even harder with Monday's news that Brett Lee will miss the Indian tour because of an elbow injury.

Mail Cricket Editor