MELBOURNE - Shane Warne may have gone wicketless in his long awaited return to international cricket but his first-up effort pleased Australian captain Steve Waugh.

Warne, making his first Australian appearance of the season, took 0-38 off his ten overs as Australia crushed the West Indies in the opening game of the tri-series by 74 runs at the MCG last night.

Australia's Test and one-day wicket record holder made a nervous start, conceding nine runs in his first over and 21 in his first four but was back to his usual miserly self by his second spell.

"His second spell was much better, he settled into a pattern after the first couple of overs," Waugh said.

The Aussie skipper put Warne's poor start down to a rare case of nerves after he received a hero's welcome from a 56,000 strong home crowd when he made his first appearance at the bowling crease in the 18th over.

"The first couple of overs he was very nervous. It was probably the most nervous I've seen him for a long while," Waugh said.

"He even said himself he didn't realise how nervous he was going to be coming back."

"But that's why cricket is such a great game.

"The guy has taken 360 odd Test wickets and plenty of one day wickets but coming back, he felt like it was his first game."

Waugh also praised the efforts of first gamer Nathan Bracken, who took 1/30 from his nine overs including an opening spell of 1-13 from six as he bowled to the Windies' best batsman, Brian Lara.

"I thought he did well, it was a good contest with Brian Lara," Waugh said of Bracken.

"Brian went up after him but he stuck to his guns and bowled well in his first three or four overs."

The Australians head to Brisbane later today to prepare for their next match in the tri series, against the West Indies at the Gabba on Sunday.

© 2001 AAP