Steve Waugh wants Aussies to put faith in youth

Published on Wednesday 5 January 2011 14:08

STEVE Waugh has called on those in charge of Australian cricket to put their faith in young players if they are to revive their fortunes.

England are on course to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years as they closed day three of the final Test at the SCG on 488 for seven to lead by 208.

Speaking at the unveiling of a bronze statue in his honour at the SCG yesterday morning, the former Australia captain urged selectors to show faith in the next generation.

He identified Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Phil Hughes and paceman Peter Siddle as the men to lift Australia back to the top of the Test pile in the coming seasons.

Waugh admitted the current crop are far from the finished product, but was adamant the situation was not as dire as when he made his own debut in 1985.

"My first Test match Allan Border had played more Test matches than the rest of the team combined, so that was really a new beginning in Australian cricket," Waugh said.

"This is not the same. There's still a lot of experienced players and a lot of good young players. We're certainly not back to where we were in 85.

"This is still a pretty good team, but I guess it is a turning point. There's a turnover of players, some young guys coming through that look very promising and at some stage you've got to start with a new era."

Waugh's own career was a successful one. He played first-class cricket for 20 years, played in an Australian record 168 Tests, compiled 10,927 runs to be seventh on the all-time list and created an unmatched success rate as Test captain of 71.92 per cent. Australia's world record of 16 consecutive Test wins came during his tenure.

The statue he unveiled yesterday replicates the pose he struck upon reaching his unforgettable last-ball-of-the-day century in the 2003 Ashes Test. "That was probably the most pleasing moment of my career," Waugh recalled.

"There were about 30,000 people at the ground, but probably 100,000 people have told me they were there.

"One guy told me he was at the country races in Victoria and they put the horses in the barriers, but pulled them out when I got to 98 and held them till I got the hundred. That sums up Australians.

"That hundred was as much the supporters' as it was mine because it came at a tough time when there were so many red hankies showing such amazing support."

Waugh's statue is positioned next to the walkway he used so often between the SCG's dressing rooms and nets.

"It's on the path to where all the hard work is done," he said. "That sums up what I was all about: hard work, making the most of my opportunities and really enjoying playing for NSW and Australia."