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SYDNEY, Wednesday (Reuters) Australian captain Steve Waugh and his team are planning a strategy to counter Chris Cairns in the second test after hailing the New Zealander as the world's top all-rounder.

Cairns, ranked 18th in the world test batting ratings and eighth in the bowling ratings, took New Zealand to the brink of an improbable victory in the first test with a fine all-round performance.

"There's a lot of really good all-rounders but Cairns is definitely as good as anyone and he will get better," Waugh said on Wednesday.

"We will certainly be talking about him at the team meeting down in Hobart."

Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said the home team needed to re-think their strategy to stop Cairns.

"He continues to back himself. He is flexible. We have just got to come up with new ideas as to how we think we can counter him earlier than what we do at the moment," Gilchrist told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"He is making an impact every time he bats."

"He's obviously an outstanding cricketer and has really risen to the challenge of playing us."

Cairns took five wickets in the first innings with the ball and scored 61 and 43 with the bat. His first innings helped New Zealand avoid the follow-on and his 43 runs from 38 balls in the second saw them come within 10 runs of winning the match.

The second test of the three-match series starts next Thursday.

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