Age, history, injuries and, if you believe Sunil Gavaskar, even the sentiment of the cricketing public are all against Australia in the World Cup and captain Ricky Ponting couldn't be happier.

Irritated by what he interprets as suggestions that the world champions are on the slide, Ponting made it clear they were ready to prove a point and a siege mentality is building as they chase a third consecutive World Cup.

It spells danger for Australia's first Group A opponents Scotland whose brave collection of county players, bankers, teachers and university students are expected to feel the backlash at Warner Park in St Kitts on Wednesday (12.30am Thursday AEDT).

Ponting has not been impressed by talk of a more "open" World Cup in the wake of Australia's five-game losing streak last month.

"It seems like a lot of people who have been saying that have been scared of saying something else, saying it's more open rather than saying they probably think we are not the team we were," Ponting said.

"I think that's what they have been trying to say.

"I don't think the teams do. I think some journalists and people around the place might be suggesting that rather than saying that.

"It doesn't make any sense to me. I don't think this is any more open than any other one. All the best teams are here.

"If any team plays exceptionally well through the tournament, they are a chance to win.

"'There's been lots of negativity towards the team so we have got a bit of a point to prove to a lot of people.

"I don't mind this team being in that situation. Whenever we have been there before, we have managed to really turn things around to play some of our best cricket."

Ponting didn't believe opposing teams were writing them off.

"That's the thing. I think all the players from other teams would be fearing us more than anybody else, and hopefully through the tournament we'll be giving teams reason to be fearing us.

"It's just about us getting back to playing the best cricket we can and making sure we can do it for 100 overs.

"If we do that, I think you'll see how good we can be."

Brett Lee left a trail of destruction at the 2003 World Cup when Australia were unbeaten and, in his injury-enforced absence this time, young slinger Shaun Tait is set to be unleashed on the Scots.

Tait is likely to get a two-over opening spell similar to last Friday's warm-up game against England, leaving veteran Glenn McGrath, 37, to take over while the ball is still new to save Tait for some reverse-swing torpedoes late in the innings.

In an attempt to squeeze one last highlight reel from a team that includes some of the game's all-time greats, Ponting sees his side as having a point to prove as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup.

Opener Matthew Hayden has recovered well from a broken toe suffered last month and is expected to play, bumping in-form opener Shane Watson to No.7 on the batting order.

Spinner Brad Hogg and paceman Stuart Clark are jostling for a spot in the eleven, depending on how Ponting and selector-on-duty Andrew Hilditch read the pitch.

"It really is going to come down to conditions. I know some of the other teams, speaking to them, the 9.30am starts they had wickets which seamed all over the place," Ponting said.

Ponting admits the team's busy travelling schedule, including attending the opening ceremony in Jamaica on Sunday, has left little time to do some homework on Scotland.

"We haven't done any thing on it," he said.

But for Scotland all-rounder Dougie Brown, the imbalance in budgets and resources means he has a fair idea how the result will go, despite having Queenslanders Paul Hoffmann and Glenn Rogers in his side.

"Without being able to dedicate time to cricket, nine to five, our development will consistently be hindered," he told The Scotsman newspaper.

Australia (likely): Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Stuart Clark/Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait (one to be omitted).

Scotland (from): Craig Wright (captain), John Blain, Dougie Brown, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Paul Hoffmann, Douglas Lockhart, Ross Lyons, Neil McCallum, Dewald Nel, Navdeep Poonia, Glenn Rogers, Colin Smith, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP