BRISTOL, ENGLAND, May 30: Australian captain Mark Taylor has said he would play in next week's first Test against England despite another poor performance with the bat in the tourists' drawn match against Gloucestershire.

``I think I've got to play in the first Test,'' he said after making only 30 in Australia's second innings total of 354 for four declared on the third and final day of their tour match in Bristol, yesterday.

Taylor, who has another two innings against Derbyshire to recapture some form before the first Test in Edgbaston, claims he still has the support of fellow selectors in coach Geoff Marsh and vice-captain Steve Waugh as he aims to finally end the worst scoring trough of his career.

Justin Langer and opener Matthew Elliott both plundered centuries and, after a slowish start, the duo put on 192 in 51 overs for the second wicket.

Elliott was first to 100 off 214 balls with 15 boundaries and he went on to make 124 before falling to Michael Smith.

Langer's century came in far quicker time from 155 ball with 12 fours and he remained unbeaten on 152 when Australia declared with an overall advantage of 251.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA (1st innings): 249

GLOUCESTERSHIRE (1st innings): A Wright lbw b Gillespie 16, N Trainor c Kasprowicz b McGrath 121, R Davis lbw Warne 30, R Cunliffe c Kasprowicz b Warne 61, T Hancock lbw Kasprowicz 15, S Young c Healy b Kasprowicz 1, M Alleyne c&b Gillespie 20, R Russell c Bevan b Warne 20, M Ball c&b Kasprowicz 25, A Smith c Gillespie b Warne 4, J Lewis not out 7. Extras: (b 4 lb 6 nb 20) 30. Total: (in 107.2 overs) 350

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-103, 3-243, 4-250, 5-257, 6-286, 7-288, 8 339, 9-339

Bowling: McGrath 19-11-31-1, Kasprowicz 21-2-101-3, Warne 35.2-10 97-4, Gillespie 20-4-66-2, Bevan 12-1-45-0

AUSTRALIA (2nd innings): M Elliott lbw Smith 124, M Taylor lbw Ball 30, J Langer not out 152, S Warne b Smith 0, J Gillespie c Russell b Lewis 7, M Waugh not out 32. Extras: (b 6 lb 2 w 1) 9. Total: (for 4 wickets declared in 109 overs) 354

Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-254, 3-262, 4-269

Bowling: Smith 13-5-18-2, Davis 29-6-101-0, Lewis 18-5-59-1, Ball 28-9-89-1, Alleyne 8-2-25-0, Trainor 3-2-8-0, Hancock 5-0-26-0, Russell 3-0-15-0, Young 2-0-5-0

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.