I was thrilled to read yesterday on the Net that Adam Dale has recovered from pneumonia and is working towards regaining full fitness for the World Cup. His availability will be a huge boost for the Aussies as they embark on fulfilling their final goal of a nine-month schedule. Before leaving for Pakistan last September, the whole squad met in Brisbane for a training camp to set our goals for the gruelling nine, upcoming months.

The squad's goals were drawn up as a pyramid graph and have been travelling with us in Geoff Marsh's briefcase for the last eight months. Every team meeting since that initial session, Swampy has pinned this pyramid onto a blank wall in the team room, as a reminder to everyone of what we had set out to accomplish. Basically every series was drawn up - the Commonwealth Games, Pakistan Test series, Pakistan one-day series, Ansett Ashes series, Carlton & United one-day series, West Indies Test series, West Indies one-day series and finally the World Cup in England. Of the six completed contests, the good guys have won four and drawn two, a pretty good effort considering the standard of competition that we have been up against.

Although it has been a tough assignment, the boys only have to win the World Cup to make it a very successful, if not eventful, nine months of international cricket. After a week of necessary rest and recuperation in Barbados, the boys must be arriving here in England in the next few days to commence preparations for this monumental World Cup event. With 'Chippen' Dale back in the squad, the boys must be going into the biggest one-day event full of confidence and expectation. The rest was no doubt a crucial part of their preparation for an event I know Steve Waugh and all the boys are particularly keyed up for. After losing the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, the general feeling was that an opportunity was forfeited. Steve Waugh was particularly disappointed by the Games result, and if I know 'Tugga's' character, he will be doubly determined to grasp this World Cup opportunity with both hands.

While I have left him to enjoy his Caribbean rest, I will be in touch with him over the next few days to get the inside mail of how the team is travelling. When I have spoken to him, I will share the gossip with you in another 'Postcard'.

From London, JL