da luck： SYDNEY – Steve Waugh wants to go out on his own terms – unlike twin Mark- but won’t put a date on it for fear of creating more pressure.
Valkerie Mangnall29-Oct-2002SYDNEY – Steve Waugh wants to go out on his own terms – unlike twin Mark- but won’t put a date on it for fear of creating more pressure.The Australian Test captain believes his brother’s sacking yesterdaycould ease some tension within the team but is well aware the selectionfocus on his own batting performance will intensify as a result.Waugh admitted today it would feel odd walking onto the Gabba for thefirst Ashes Test in nine days’ time without Mark in the side.But the 37-year-old relished the challenge of scoring runs to maintaincontrol of his own future and wouldn’t rule out playing well beyond theAshes cricket series.”I haven’t put a date on when I’m going to finish,” said Waugh, whoeased the pressure on himself with his unbeaten 103 against Pakistan inthe third Test in Sharjah this month — his first Test century in 14months and 17 innings.”I don’t know whether it’s going to be this season or next season orwhenever, but I’d like to continue playing well.”I don’t really want someone to say, ‘I think your time’s up’. In someways it’s in my own hands when I’m going to finish.”Waugh believed setting a retirement date was unwise.”I really don’t want to put a date on it because I think you playaccordingly,” he said.”I think you can stifle yourself by saying, ‘this is my last match’, andget bogged down and just focus on that too much.”Waugh accepted Mark’s axing as part of the tough job asked of selectors.The captain’s form has been less consistent than Mark’s since they bothscored centuries in the fifth Test against England in August last year.Steve had averaged 28 since while Mark averaged 30.5.The need for a sparkling summer is just the type of challenge thefiercely competitive Waugh thrives on.”I’m not going to lie and say every moment’s been enjoyable playing forAustralia,” said Waugh, reflecting on a tumultuous past year that formsthe basis of his latest Captain’s Diary book launched in Sydney today.”It’s been challenging and that’s certainly the case still, but that’swhy I love it.”I love going out there and coming back from adversity. I think that’sthe greatest part about sport, not when you’re going well, it’s how youcome back from when you’re struggling.”Waugh admitted ongoing selection debate over he and Mark had affectedhis team.”Maybe in some ways there will be a little bit of easing of thepressure,” he said.”There’s no doubt that when someone’s under pressure or beingscrutinised pretty closely, you do feel for that player and it probablydoes put a little bit of extra pressure on the side.”But I thought the team was handling it pretty well.”He welcomed 32-year-old Darren Lehmann’s selection as his brother’sreplacement and thought calls for his young NSW teammate MichaelClarke’s inclusion were a little premature.”The guy [Clarke] is a talent but I’d like to think, ‘give him a littlebit more time’,” said Waugh.”He’s talented but you’re forgetting quite a few other guys like [Simon]Katich, [Michael] Bevan, [Jimmy] Maher and [Martin] Love and [Brad]Hodge.”There’s a lot of good players out there and I think Darren Lehmanndeserved his chance.”