Hitting out with caution!

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent
Two of cricket's biggest hitters might have tomodify their styles at the World Cup with slow-paced pitches expected.EnglandNo. 4 Kevin Pietersen and Australian opener Adam Gilchrist are at their mostdestructive when swinging freely to hit through the line of deliveries.
But ifthe two warm-up games at the Arnos Vale ground are any indication, that will bea difficult task, especially when the slower bowlers are on.
Pietersen, who made43 in England's 241-run warm-up win Monday over Bermuda before he was stumpedoff left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock, described the pitch as like one from thesubcontinent."From what we saw the previous day, it's going to be a patiencegame, a bit like some of the Indian tracks we got last year," he said. "Thattrack on Monday reminded me of a couple of tracks we played on in India lastyear where the first 15 overs, the ball comes on OK."The ball then gets a bitsofter and the spinners come on and you're going to have to sweep and nudge and'nurdle' the ball. You're not going to be able to freely clear the ropes and hitthrough the line of the ball; and because the ball is stopping, biting,spinning, you're going to have play the patience game.
"I did it in India lastyear, there's no reason why I can't do it here."Australia beat Zimbabwe by 106runs Tuesday, but it lost one more wicket _ seven to six, including three tospinners _ and had No. 1 spinner Brad Hogg go wicket-less for the sixth game ina row.
Gilchrist sat out the match after flying in late Monday night, but saidhis teammates had appreciated the hit-out purely so they could adjust to the pitch.
"A few of them are much happier for experiencing a West Indian wicket,"the Australian wicketkeeper said. "Whether it's an absolute typical one remainsto be seen, but they're much better for the run."Australia captain RickyPonting will be without Andrew Symonds' offspin for most, if not all, of thegroup stage, so Brad Hodge's gentle tweakers were used against Zimbabwe _ andeven claimed a wicket.
"I thought Hodge did a good job for us," Ponting said."We've still got Michael Clarke to bowl, and Symonds will have a big part toplay when he returns. I'm very happy with my slow-bowling options."