Men At Work
26-11-2003, 03:16 AM
From www.abc.net.au
Waugh pulls up stumps
Australian Test captain Steve Waugh has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Waugh plans to quit the Australian team after the upcoming Test series against India, starting in Brisbane next week.
"My present form and fitness suggests I could play on but all good things come to an end and I believe Sydney is the perfect place," Waugh said.
Waugh will play his last Test at his home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground, on January 2-6.
Fittingly it will be against India, the team he made his Test debut against as a 20-year-old in Melbourne in 1985-86
The 38-year-old batsman was previously considering playing on until the tour of India in September in a bid to win a Test series on Indian soil.
But he now says he is looking forward to spending time with his family.
"It's been in the back of my mind for a long time now, I've thought about when is the right time to retire," he said.
"I felt last year when I played in Sydney it could have been a fairytale finish but I've always prided myself on being consistent and I felt as if I wasn't playing consistently well, I knew I could play better.
"But I just feel right now I'm playing consistently well, I want to leave the game on a high and I just feel the time is right now."
Waugh added that he believes Ricky Ponting, captain of Australia's one-day side, will most likely succeed him as Test captain.
Waugh has played 164 Tests for Australia, amassing 10,660 runs during his illustrious career.
Among Waugh's achievements are a World Cup title in 1999 and the construction of 16-Test match winning streak as captain.
Tributes
Former team-mate David Boon says Waugh's retirement is a major loss for cricket.
"Well I feel very sad, I suppose, he said.
"A player who is magnificent for Australia and truly deserves the word greatness put beside his name has retired from the game. It's a very sad loss for Australian cricket and indeed world cricket."
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor told Channel Nine he is pleased Waugh will go out on his own terms.
He says Waugh has fought back from adversity and had many great moments.
"There are tough moments as a player," he said. "I think Steve Waugh is one of those players who's had very few of those though.
"I think he's had a great career, he's been a wonderful performer for Australia for the majority of those 17 years, and I think he'll look back on those moments rather than the bad ones."
Meanwhile Australian team-mate Adam Gilchrist says it is hard to quantify Waugh's contribution to the game.
"I mean something as obvious as the pride of cap, I really think he can take credit for, I mean I'm not saying players before him didn't play with pride and value it, but he's the main driver behind that passion and the aura of the baggy green," he said.
And as speculation grows about who will replace Waugh as Test captain, Gilchrist says the choice is clear.
"I'll say straight out my tip would be Ricky Ponting," he said.
"I've been fortunate to have been given a chance before, a wonderful experience and a great honour.
"But I think the way Ricky's taken the job in one-day cricket, just his, being around him and looking at the way he operates and seeing his mind in regards to cricket scenarios, he just reads it so well."
In Melbourne, acclaimed Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has wished Steve Waugh the best of luck.
"I'm sure he's really enjoyed playing cricket for Australia and obviously he's done wonders," he said.
"He's had a tremendous career, I'd like to wish him the very best of luck for the future. He's set great examples on and off the field for all of us to follow."
Illustrious career
Waugh has captained the national side with distinction, guiding Australia out of many tight situations.
The champion cricketer has played many memorable innings, among them his highest ever Test score of 200 against the West Indies at Sabina Park in 1995.
His twin centuries against England at Old Trafford in 1997, and a stunning 120 against South Africa in a must-win game at the 1999 World Cup would also rank as highlights.
But arguably his best came in January this year at the SCG when, with speculation rife about the veteran's playing future, he saved Australia's first innings against England with 102, bringing up the ton with a boundary from the last ball of the day.
The century saw Waugh equal Don Bradman's Australian record of 29 Test tons and silence critics who had been calling for his head.
Waugh made his first class debut for New South Wales in 1984-85 and soon caught the eye of Australian selectors.
He was called up for Test duty at a time when the Australian team was struggling and quickly set about making his mark.
Waugh made a name for himself with both the bat and the ball, his medium pace bowling and fine batting helping Australia to win the 1987 World Cup triumph.
Waugh took over from Mark Taylor as Australian one-day captain in 1997-98 and remained in charge of the side until 2001-2002.
Waugh has been the Test captain since Taylor's retirement from cricket in 1999.
He has a Test average of 51.25 and a bowling average 36.95.
Waugh pulls up stumps
Australian Test captain Steve Waugh has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Waugh plans to quit the Australian team after the upcoming Test series against India, starting in Brisbane next week.
"My present form and fitness suggests I could play on but all good things come to an end and I believe Sydney is the perfect place," Waugh said.
Waugh will play his last Test at his home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground, on January 2-6.
Fittingly it will be against India, the team he made his Test debut against as a 20-year-old in Melbourne in 1985-86
The 38-year-old batsman was previously considering playing on until the tour of India in September in a bid to win a Test series on Indian soil.
But he now says he is looking forward to spending time with his family.
"It's been in the back of my mind for a long time now, I've thought about when is the right time to retire," he said.
"I felt last year when I played in Sydney it could have been a fairytale finish but I've always prided myself on being consistent and I felt as if I wasn't playing consistently well, I knew I could play better.
"But I just feel right now I'm playing consistently well, I want to leave the game on a high and I just feel the time is right now."
Waugh added that he believes Ricky Ponting, captain of Australia's one-day side, will most likely succeed him as Test captain.
Waugh has played 164 Tests for Australia, amassing 10,660 runs during his illustrious career.
Among Waugh's achievements are a World Cup title in 1999 and the construction of 16-Test match winning streak as captain.
Tributes
Former team-mate David Boon says Waugh's retirement is a major loss for cricket.
"Well I feel very sad, I suppose, he said.
"A player who is magnificent for Australia and truly deserves the word greatness put beside his name has retired from the game. It's a very sad loss for Australian cricket and indeed world cricket."
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor told Channel Nine he is pleased Waugh will go out on his own terms.
He says Waugh has fought back from adversity and had many great moments.
"There are tough moments as a player," he said. "I think Steve Waugh is one of those players who's had very few of those though.
"I think he's had a great career, he's been a wonderful performer for Australia for the majority of those 17 years, and I think he'll look back on those moments rather than the bad ones."
Meanwhile Australian team-mate Adam Gilchrist says it is hard to quantify Waugh's contribution to the game.
"I mean something as obvious as the pride of cap, I really think he can take credit for, I mean I'm not saying players before him didn't play with pride and value it, but he's the main driver behind that passion and the aura of the baggy green," he said.
And as speculation grows about who will replace Waugh as Test captain, Gilchrist says the choice is clear.
"I'll say straight out my tip would be Ricky Ponting," he said.
"I've been fortunate to have been given a chance before, a wonderful experience and a great honour.
"But I think the way Ricky's taken the job in one-day cricket, just his, being around him and looking at the way he operates and seeing his mind in regards to cricket scenarios, he just reads it so well."
In Melbourne, acclaimed Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has wished Steve Waugh the best of luck.
"I'm sure he's really enjoyed playing cricket for Australia and obviously he's done wonders," he said.
"He's had a tremendous career, I'd like to wish him the very best of luck for the future. He's set great examples on and off the field for all of us to follow."
Illustrious career
Waugh has captained the national side with distinction, guiding Australia out of many tight situations.
The champion cricketer has played many memorable innings, among them his highest ever Test score of 200 against the West Indies at Sabina Park in 1995.
His twin centuries against England at Old Trafford in 1997, and a stunning 120 against South Africa in a must-win game at the 1999 World Cup would also rank as highlights.
But arguably his best came in January this year at the SCG when, with speculation rife about the veteran's playing future, he saved Australia's first innings against England with 102, bringing up the ton with a boundary from the last ball of the day.
The century saw Waugh equal Don Bradman's Australian record of 29 Test tons and silence critics who had been calling for his head.
Waugh made his first class debut for New South Wales in 1984-85 and soon caught the eye of Australian selectors.
He was called up for Test duty at a time when the Australian team was struggling and quickly set about making his mark.
Waugh made a name for himself with both the bat and the ball, his medium pace bowling and fine batting helping Australia to win the 1987 World Cup triumph.
Waugh took over from Mark Taylor as Australian one-day captain in 1997-98 and remained in charge of the side until 2001-2002.
Waugh has been the Test captain since Taylor's retirement from cricket in 1999.
He has a Test average of 51.25 and a bowling average 36.95.