By Justin Langer Australia batsman in Guyana

Steve Waugh plays his 157th Test match for Australia on Thursday.

Langer expects Waugh to underplay his remarkable achievement

In doing so he surpasses the great Allan Border as the player who has played more Test matches than any other man in the history of the game.

Whether this feat was an underlying factor in his decision to continue playing Test cricket is unknown.

What is known is that, although he will typically underplay his extraordinary achievement, he will lead the team out wearing his baggy green cap, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction of an outstanding career until now.

The last Test match we played was back in January, where England were able to restore some pride with a triumph in the final Test of the series.

It is now time to restore some pride of our own, as we know a series victory here in the Caribbean will ensure that we take back the crown of the number one Test-playing nation in the world.

Seeing South Africa accept the prize a few months ago hurt, but with the image of the one-day team holding aloft the World Cup, our energy is firmly focused on holding the mantle in both forms of the game.

Our preparation this week has been excellent. In a three-day practice game all of our batsmen were able to find some early tour form, while our bowlers had a worthwhile workout on a lifeless pitch.

Although he hasn't played a Test match for seven years, I believe Brad Hogg is ripe for the picking

Most impressive was the performance of World Cup hero Bradley Hogg. In a career best performance he finished with nine wickets for the game.

His effort is sure to bring him into strong consideration for this first Test in Guyana.

While the team will not be announced until just before the game my gut feeling is that the selectors will be very tempted to go with Brad because of his style of bowling.

With the West Indies boasting a number of left-handed batsmen, the left arm leg spin of Hoggy could cause some headaches.

Although he hasn't played a Test match for seven years, where he played a single Test against India, it seems like the timing may be just right for his return to the Test arena.

Full of confidence from the World Cup and with his flipper and wrong'un working beautifully, I believe my enthusiastic Western Australian team mate is ripe for the picking.

If the selectors do decide to go for Brad then they have a dilemma to contend with. Do they go against a successful recipe and play Adam Gilchrist at number six?

The inclusion of Brad Hogg would give the selectors a headache

Or do they leave out the proven wicket taking potential of leg spinner MacGill and play the seven batsmen like they have done for the last few years?

Either way we will go into the game on a very slow looking Georgetown pitch with an outstanding Test team and one that is determined to start this series strongly.

By the toss today we will know how the selectors are thinking now that Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are out of the team.

In our final team meeting Steve Waugh told us that our fate in this series would rely upon our attitudes above everything else.

He reflected on the brilliant, focused, determined attitude of 1995 compared to the lack lustre, lazy and complacent attitude of 1999.

On both occasions the score line reflected the attitude of the tour. In 1995 we won the series against all odds, where in 1999 we drew a series we were favorites to win easily.

It is always tough to beat the West Indies on their home turf.

With Brian Lara back at the helm of a young but exciting team, the stage is set for a very entertaining brand of Caribbean cricket. Bring it on!