Memories from the Waugh zone
Legend has his say on Ashes series
THERE were so many over the course of 15 years it’s hard for Steve Waugh to narrow down just a few highlights from his many Ashes battles.
Few thrived in the cauldron of an Australia v England Test series more than ‘Tugga’ Waugh.
Wearing that one – albeit patched up over the years – baggy green cap, Waugh led the way for his country with distinction, be it marshalling his troops as captain or on the frontline with bat or ball in hand.
As a personal highlight Waugh mentions his maiden Test hundred, which came in that unforgettable 1989 series in England – his first tour of the old country – when the visitors came away with a 4-0 drubbing.
The then-23-year-old, while already a one-day international star in the canary yellow, had yet to establish himself in the longest form of the game, averaging just 30 in 26 Test appearances.
But then the runs came thick and fast, Waugh notching a 177 not out in the first Test at Headingly to help set the tone for the Aussies on his way to an unbeaten 360 runs across the first two matches.
“You never forget your first hundred,” he said. Waugh also recalls his 29th Test ton to equal Don Bradman’s then Australian record tally, scored in the twilight of his career and the throes of dusk on his home soil at the SCG in January 2003.
Back under pressure to hold his spot in the side after a lean patch that had yielded just 645 runs in the preceding 16 matches, the then 37-year-old would crack another back-to-the-wall ton, his 10th and last against the Poms.
Rescuing Australia, then reeling at 3-52 in pursuit of England’s first innings score of 452, and prolonging his career for another year, Waugh would show all the fight he was renowned for before “being lucky enough” to smack a four from the last ball of the second day’s play to bring up an incredible hundred.
But arguably his most special personal Ashes achievement came in just his second Test – and 10th overall – against the Old Enemy in November 1986 in Perth ... with the ball.
Then picked as a genuine all-rounder, Waugh entered the attack as first change and his gentle right-arm medium pacers had the tourists in all sorts in their second innings. He would claim 5-69 and clean bowl the likes of Mike Gatting.
“Getting five wickets, I think I was the fourth youngest Australian to get five wickets in an innings,” he said.
“I didn’t think I would get a bowl.
“That was a pretty proud moment. Unexpected.”
Waugh would play in 46 Ashes Tests, captaining the Aussies in nine for eight wins.
He would also be involved in eight successive series wins from 1989 to 2002-03.
“Winning eight Ashes series in a row as a team was something that I’m pretty proud of,” he said.
“You look back and think that was a pretty amazing achievement.” The Ashes always brought out the best in Waugh.
“There’s something special about an Ashes series,” he said.
“You know that all of England are watching and they are desperate to win and we are desperate to beat them.
“This is what it’s all about. An Australian Test cricketer playing in an Ashes campaign.
“The excitement around the ground, every match is sold out.
“It does bring all of Australia together and we almost judge ourselves (as a nation) on how successful we are in an Ashes series.
“It’s almost the benchmark for Australia as to how we’re going.
“If we win the Ashes everything’s Ok.”
England is the current holder of the little urn after winning it back on its home turf in 2015 (3-2) following Australia’s Mitchell Johnson-inspired 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14.
Australia has never been ranked so lowly – fifth in the world behind India, South Africa, England and New Zealand – heading into an Ashes series with the side unsettled after a series loss to India and drawing with Bangaldesh.
Waugh wants consistency from his country under the captaincy of Steve Smith.
He believes the “chopping and changing of your team” has provided Smith with a real “challenge”.
“Hopefully the Australian team can lay a solid foundation this year if they can win the Ashes series,” he said.
“I don’t think they will change the team too much.
“It’s important to have consistency in your team.”
Waugh knows from his own experience, especially when put in charge of a new-look ODI team in the 1990s which was completely detached from the Test squad, a rarity back then.
“I pretty much took over a new side for the one-dayers,” he recalls. “That was a challenge (but) something I really enjoyed.
“I think a captain does enjoy new players coming into the side. You can have an influence on those players, you can teach them the culture and what it means to play for Australia.
“New players always bring an element of enthusiasm and excitement.
“But you don’t want it happening too regularly.”
While Australia’s bowling attack looks impressive with the three-pronged pace battery of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon, Waugh said the batting department clearly must lift.
“The other players outside of Smith and (opener David) Warner need to step up,” he said.
“But, we’ve got the players, there’s no doubt about that.”
Cameron Bacroft will debut in place of Matt Renshaw at the top of the order, while the revolving door of selection has seen the frequently dropped or injured Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja return.
There has been a similar uncertainty over the English squad with many a new face Aussies would pass on the street without batting an eyelid.
The banished Ben Stokes is not one of them. The star all-rounder may yet arrive on our shores pending a police investigation over his infamous nightspot brawl, but only for the third Test in Perth.
“Stokes is the x-factor,” Waugh said.
“If he was playing you would say it was 50-50 as to who is going to win but without him it swings heavily in favour of Australia
“But having said that there are some world-class players. There’s enough talent to cause us problems.”