Warne expected blind loyalty, says Waugh
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who has been dubbed the ‘most selfish player’ by his teammate Shane Warne in his book ‘No Spin,’ chose not to respond to the personal jibes but insisted the decision to drop the leg spinner during the 1999 tour of the West Indies was taken as a ‘captain for the benefit of the team.’
Warne, in his recently-released book, recalled the 1999 tour of the West Indies where Waugh wanted the leg spinner to be dropped.
Warne was recovering from a shoulder injury at that time and was also the team’s vice-captain. The incident, the spin wizard claimed, was the tipping point in their relationship.
“I had to make a decision as a captain and as a leader. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to make that decision but I did it for the benefit of the team.
“You’ve got to have loyalty to a certain degree but you can’t have blind loyalty. I guess that’s what Shane expected on that occasion.”
“I had to make a decision. I got on fine with Shane we had a great relationship. As a leader you’re put in a tough position sometimes but that’s why you’re a leader,” he added.
Waugh, who is considered one of the greatest captains of all time, said he didn’t need to react to Warne’s criticism that he is the ‘most selfish’ player and was only concerned with keeping his average above 50.
“I’m responding [to Warne] by not responding because I don’t think it needs a response,” said the 53-year-old while speaking to ABC’s News Breakfast on Thursday.
Waugh, who led Australia to the 1999 ODI World Cup title in England, said he would rather concentrate on his foundation’s work with children and young adults with rare diseases than bother about what his former teammate has to say about him.
“That’s what’s important to me. Not what someone says about something that happened 20 years ago,” he concluded.