NAIROBI - Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist believes his cricket team underestimated the importance of the ICC Knockout Cup when it was first played two years ago.

This time around, he vowed the same mistake wouldn't be made when the second tournament gets underway here today.

The Aussies were bundled out in their first match by India when the inaugural ICC Cup was played in Bangladesh two years ago.

It's a memory that has stayed with Gilchrist and his team-mates and they are determined for history not to repeat itself when they play their opening match here on Saturday.

They could again find themselves tackling India, which opens the tournament here today (5.45pm AEDT) with a match against host nation Kenya.

The winner will meet Australia in the first quarterfinal on Saturday.

While the fate of their opposition will be decided today, the Aussies will be rounding off what has been an intense preparation with a warm-up match against England.

"We probably didn't realise the status of the tournament last time," Gilchrist admitted.

"It's not the World Cup but it's what we consider to be the second best one day tournament in the world."

"We probably didn't realise that at the time in Dhaka and we got bundled out but we stayed on in Dhaka up to about the final (in which South Africa beat the West Indies) and watching the teams progress probably hurt the guys a little bit."

Gilchrist said the sting the team felt in Dhaka was the spark for Australia's resurgence which culminated in last year's memorable World Cup win.

"After we lost in Dhaka we went to Pakistan and won a one day series 3-0 and we really grew in belief and that really got the momentum going," he said.

Australia has been in Kenya for a week and already has one win under its belt, a 93-run win over the host nation in a practice game on Saturday.

The Australians rested Glenn McGrath, Ian Harvey and Michael Bevan from that match but will play all 14 squad members today against England, who will do the same.

While the match is a friendly, Gilchrist said it was vital Australia won to gain a psychological edge over a resurgent England side, which Australia could meet in the semifinal of the ICC Cup on October 13.

"England is potential opposition in the tournament so we wouldn't lose a game to them at this stage given we may play them in the tournament proper," he said. Gilchrist was also hoping to get amongst the runs himself after he, along with fellow top order batsman Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn, all fell cheaply against Kenya.

"It was just so frustrating we didn't take the chance we had to spend time in the middle," Gilchrist said.

"But that's something we will try to rectify against England."

© 2000 AAP