Warne expected blind loyalty, says Waugh
MUMBAI: 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.
VIHARI, GILL SHOW
A national call-up can do any player’s confidence a world of good, and that has been the case with Hanuma Vihari. The 25-year-old middle-order batsman, who scored a gritty 56 on Test debut in England last month, has been the top performer for India B with two successive half-centuries. The unbeaten 87 against India A and 76 against India C came when his team was in danger of being bundled out.
With India’s ODI middle-order puzzle yet to be resolved, Vihari will know a match-winning knock in the final will keep him in good stead.
As far as absorbing pressure and anchoring the innings is concerned, Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 106 against India A was a perfect example.
Despite the presence of experienced pros, Gill has scored the only century of the tournament, which has helped India C seal a spot in the final.
Since the U-19 World Cup win this year, he has scored consistently, be it for Punjab, India A, or in Indian Premier League (IPL). While the pressure of expectations is always there, Gill knows how to keep them aside.
“All these things (expectations) are there in your mind before you get to the middle. It’s all about scoring runs when you get on the field,” he said after Thursday’s win over India C.
SPINNERS ON ROLL
On the slow Kotla track, spinners have accounted for 26 of the 47 wickets to fall in the three games.
India B’s key to success has been left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem’s opening spell. He has stemmed the run flow, building pressure and allowing other bowlers to take advantage.
Against India C on Wednesday, Nadeem didn’t let Rahane and Co to settle down, which helped off-spinner K Gowtham and part-timers Manoj Tiwary and Shreyas Iyer to share seven wickets.
For India C, left-arm spinner Pappu Roy — who took three wickets against India B but wasn’t selected against India A — could be back for the final.