Steven Waugh

Steve Rodger Waugh is the ultimate cricketer of the world. At the age of 20 he was facing ashes defeats one after another and losing all of his cricketing confidence. Then he helped win a World Cup and made 393 runs before losing his wicket in England in 1989 .Upon his recall to test cricket, he minimalised his batsmanship, going through the risk and waiting for the loose ball, which he still punished severely. He was all but forced to give up bowling by back problems. A series of excellent innings, none better than his 200 in Jamaica to speed Australia to an historic series win. But he was denied the opportunity to defend his title when he was unceremoniously axed from the one-day side, He railed against his omission of himself, but even he couldn't reverse it. He continued as Test captain, winning yet another Ashes series in 2002-03, and continuing for the West Indian tour that followed Australia's 2003 World Cup win under Ricky Ponting. Steven Waugh wrote a series of successful tour diaries, helped set up a charity for the daughters in Calcutta. At 36 years of age, he won the Allan Border Medal as Australia's best player of 2001. He finally retired at the end of the 2003-04 series against India, bowing out with 80, his last shot an untypical heave to backward square leg.

After playing in nine successive Ashes series, the 2002 rubber was to be Australian captain Steve Waugh's last against England, and was to prove one of the most greatest victory's he has enjoyed against the English. The series began with what many regard in hindsight as one of the worst captaincy decisions of all time, as the captain won the toss for England in the first Test and sent Australia in to bat. By the end of the first day, Australia had made a staggering 364/2, and placed a stamp of authority on the series as they raced to victory by 384 runs. This was followed by two innings victories to Australia, and a fairly comfortable five-wicket win. England only managed to save some face... [continues]

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