Although the Australia sports scene is often dominated by Australian Rules Football and rugby, baseball has steadily taken root Down Under

The Aussies won a Silver Medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and should be a formidable club at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March

A list of players who say they will participate, if asked, in the 16-nation tournament were announced Monday on the first day of the baseball Winter Meetings

Six players from the Major Leagues have agreed to represent Australia, including Adrian Burnside of the Blue Jays system; Trent Durrington, a free agent who played for the Brewers; Justin Huber of the Royals; John Stephens from the Orioles; Glenn Williams from the Twins and free agent Phil Stockman

"I think it's going to be positive for baseball in Australia" Huber said in July
"The more publicity Australia can get, the more we can prove that baseball's a worthy sport in our country
If you ask the average Australian, they don't know what baseball is, they don't know that Australians play in the United States, they don't even know that such talented people actually go to the Major Leagues"

Jon Deeble, who skippered the 2004 Olympic squad and pitched in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will manage the Australian club in the World Baseball Classic
Deeble has been a coach in the Red Sox organization since 2002

The inaugural World Baseball Classic, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will take place March 3-20 and feature the world's best players competing for their home countries and territories for the first time

Fans will be able to follow all the games live exclusively online at MLB.com

First-round action will be played at four sites

Pool A - consisting of Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, will meet at the Tokyo Dome on March 3-6
Pool B - featuring USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa, will play at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Scottsdale Stadium, Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants, on March 7-10
Pool C - is Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and the Netherlands and will play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 7-10
Pool D - featuring the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy, will play at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., on March 7-10

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which takes place March 12-15 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico and Angel Stadium in Anaheim
The semifinals and finals will be held at San Diego's PETCO Park on March 18-20

The Australian squad will practice at the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on March 3-6

Its opening game will be March 7 against Italy

Burnside, a 28-year-old left-handed pitcher, was 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 50 appearances for Triple-A Syracuse in 2005
He has no big league experience with Toronto

Durrington, a 30-year-old catcher, split 2005 between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville
He batted .214 in 28 games for the Brewers

Huber began the season with Double-A Wichita and eventually advanced to the Major Leagues
The first baseman batted .271 in 25 games for Kansas City

Stephens, a pitcher, spent 2005 with the Triple-A affiliates of three teams: the Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles

Stockman was with the Diamondbacks organization this past season
He was 1-1 with a 6.25 ERA in 13 games with Triple-A Tuscon and 1-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 47 games for Double-A Tennessee

Williams, a 28-year-old third baseman, began his Major League career this summer with a 13-game hitting streak for Minnesota and batted .425
His season abruptly ended when he sustained a right shoulder injury that needed surgery