Steve’s steely resolve and ice cool attitude

Steve’s steely resolve and ice cool attitude
Kumar Shyam

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 20: The best of men go uphill during the toughest times when others would prefer to go downstream. The strength of character is evident when you come across the man leading the best ever side in the world, probably of all times. A professional to the core and the elder of the Waugh twins, Steve is leadership personified, one who leads by example. A fighter that he is, Steve admitted that the India ‘A’ had his team on the ropes at Nagpur. But is quick to add that the Aussies will sort it out in the next warm up match against Mumbai , Tendulkar or no Tendulkar. Expressing surprise over Tendulkar’s exclusion, Waugh was not afraid to drop in a word of praise to lure the master blaster, who scored a double hundred in the practice game in Mumbai when the Aussies came last time around, to play the match. Though the Aussies would love to have a look at Tendulkar, Waugh is not bothered much.

Excerpts: Was the three-day practice game enough in Nagpur?
Okay, probably a four-day game would have helped us adjust to better strokeplay. We played badly on the first day but we came back into the game.

Is it difficult coming into Tests very soon from the one-dayers?
Yes it is. But it all depends on how you concentrate in the nets. When you are practising for one day cricket, you are chipping over the top and playing some different shots. For Tests, you need to get out of that mentality and start practising playing into the gaps.

As captain, what is the weakest link in the side?
Do I need to tell you?

Normally, the coach is as good as the team, does it apply the same to the captain?
Yeah, there is a co-relation between the two. Both the captain and the coach have to get the best out of the players, maximise their playing potential and make them feel comfortable that they are playing for their country. My job is enfocus them in any situation.

You are gritty professional. But off the field, you are involved in charity projects, highlighting that you have a soft heart. Has this helped you in becoming a good cricketer?
I think, I learnt in my early career that it wasn’t easy. Probably I was too substance and compassionate. But on the field, I am a professional and would like to play hard.

The strenous Indian conditions in and out of the field?
We expected it that way and it is fine with us. So we will try and conserve as much as possible. They (India) had us on the ropes and we went all over the park on the first day. So we will try and remain as level-headed as possible.

Disappointed with your own performance...
Yes and no. I mean, I have been long enough to not worry about such things. First innings, I got out to a loose shot but I was more comfortable in the second. The idea is to spend more time in the middle and if I do well, I will score runs. So I am not much concerned.

How was the umpiring in the match (There was some confusion when the umpires disallowed Martyn to come in at number five because he was not in the field for the required time) In Australia, the rule is limited to the day. But we understand, in India here, it gets carried over. It’s okay with us. Just that the game got held up for couple of minutes.
Would you project yourself as leader or man-manager?
A mixture of both. You have to tell the players not to expect much and you will be responsible for your own actions and that is a part of the being in the Australian side. You can’t make a excuse. You are being paid for a professional player.

Will the experience as a captain help in real life later?
In worse situations you jump but after you sit back and think you realise that it would have been better to save the effort. In captaincy, there is much than doing on the field.

Has Sachin’s absence affected your plans?
I don’t know. I think that is his choice. I understand he has a calf strain. Last time around he had a nice double hundred before the game, so it surprises me that he hasn’t taken the same line of thinking.

Will the Indian disaster in the series Down Under help you in any way?
I dont know. We had a good series; won 3-0. But some Indian players will have memories of that tour. But this is a different series. You don’t look too much in the past and I see this as very good contest.