Cricket: Captains salute rival's exploits

By RICHARD BOOCK

Opposing captains Stephen Fleming and Inzamam-ul-Haq have paid tribute to Australian counterpart Steve Waugh, who retires tomorrow after one of test cricket's most influential careers.

The man who once despaired for his team after losing a test match to a Richard Hadlee-inspired New Zealand side, brings the curtain down on an 18-year career when the fourth test against India ends in Sydney.

Waugh, who apart from his 32 test centuries and average of 50, has also written five books, sponsored 300 leprosy-affected children in Kolkata, and played as a guest for Ireland, will retire having played 168 tests.

He had already been on the test scene for nine years when Fleming made his debut, and by that stage had all but exorcised the ghosts of Hadlee, Martin Crowe and Co.

Considered the most influential Australian cricketer since Sir Donald Bradman, Waugh was the most aggressive leader in the game during the latter stages of his captaincy, steering his side to a world record 16 consecutive wins.

Fleming said yesterday that the 38-year-old's acute sense of perspective and his ability to keep the game in context, underpinned his innovative and attacking style.

"Steve's a guy who places just as much importance on aspects outside the game as he does on the actual contest.

"He's also a student of the game and has expanded his players' knowledge and helped develop a wider perspective of where the team was, what it was capable of, and where it was heading."

But Fleming said Waugh's biggest influence could be seen in the way test cricket was being played today, with teams conscious of scoring more quickly and most matches ending in a result.

"He's changed the game, there's no two ways about it," Fleming said. "He's introduced a more aggressive approach into the Australian style and he's recognised the entertainment factor in the bigger picture."

Inzamam, who appeared on the test scene six seasons after Waugh, said his rival was one the game's grittiest competitors.

Relatively inexperienced as captain after only taking over the Pakistan reins in September, Inzamam said Waugh would be remembered in his country for his well-known fortitude, not to mention his match-deciding 157 at Rawalpindi in 1998.

"Waugh is a great fighter, a great player and a great captain," Inzamam said. "I think he was very good for the game. As a batsman, he kept his best for the most demanding situations, and always seemed to play well under great pressure, or when things were difficult.

"That's a mark of a great batsman," he said.

Inzamam believed Australia would remain a dominant force in the post-Waugh years, but said they would miss his experience.

"They will still miss him. He's been a huge factor in their game and he won't be easily replaced."