Waugh's return to habits of his youth (21 June 1999)

21 June 1999

Waugh's return to habits of his youth

Ian Chappell

Steve Waugh plays his cricket with a lot of pride and he is now also a very proud skipper, having added a World Cup win as captain, to his 1987 cup-winning medal. Steve is the only player to have been in both of Australia's World Cup wins.

The fact that he's still around 12 years after playing a major role in the 1987 victory is testimony to his resilience, but to still be playing effectively is an indication of his skill. Steve is now in the third stage of his career and remarkably he's turned back the clock, somehow stopped the ageing process of a cricketer and returned to the habits of his youth.

As a brash youngster Steve came into the game blazing shots in all directions and bouncing master blaster Viv Richards three times in one over. Then, after being dropped from the Australian side, he returned as more a cautious player, accumulating runs like an automaton and eliminating all risks. On taking over the captaincy of the limited-overs side, he turned back the clock and was suddenly lofting bowlers over midwicket with all the contempt of a young player who has an eagle eye and doesn't realise that things can go wrong in the game.

He used that particular shot to great effect in his brilliant counter-attack against South Africa, an innings which saved his team from elimination. The fact that he wasn't even required to bat in the final would have given him great satisfaction, but it didn't mean he had little influence on the game.

Apart from leading his troops and applying more and more pressure through field placings and bowling changes as Pakistan slipped further into the mire, Steve also held a smart catch at a crucial time. Glenn McGrath had just uncharacteristically grassed a sitter offered by Abdul Razzaq and the youngster was starting to look quite comfortable at the crease when Waugh dived and grabbed a hot chance at cover to ensure the Australians didn't pay a heavy price for that mistake.

Timing is the hallmark of Steve Waugh's cricket. He has it in spades as a batsman and he's acquired it as a captain. It's no coincidence that as his leadership improved through the tournament, so did his team's performance. The Australian team saved their best for the most important occasion, just as the captain has done on so many occasions.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph