The Electronic Telegraph carries daily news and opinion from the UK and around the world.

Angry Waugh begins to feel the heat in India

By Matthew Hannah

5 April 1998


AUSTRALIA'S limited-overs captain Steve Waugh criticised the organisers of the Indian tri-series yesterday, claiming that the scheduling is ``ridiculous''.

Waugh is angry that all matches in the tournament, which also includes India and Zimbabwe, are being played in the heat of the day instead of as day/night matches.

Australia beat Zimbabwe on Friday in 45F in Ahmedabad. Two days earlier the Australians endured fierce heat and humidity in Cochin during a 41-run loss to India.

``I think it's just ridiculous playing in these conditions,'' Waugh said in New Delhi. ``If you were honest about it, you wouldn't even walk outside in this sort of heat and yet we're playing 100 overs of cricket in it. You just can't play sport in 45F, someone has got to look at the scheduling, but I'm glad we've now got a couple of days off because it's been very taxing, both physically and mentally.'' He said there was no way to prepare for such conditions. ``If you trained for these conditions you would die before you got over here.''

Meanwhile, Wes Hall's decision to stand down as chairman of the West Indies selectors has led to fears in the Caribbean that the already confused selection policy could become chaotic. In the series against England, the West Indies used an unprecedented 18 players and by the end of the one-day series it could be as high as 30.

Former Test stars such as Colin Croft are concerned. He said: ``The West Indies selectors and team would have done whatever it took to beat England, regardless of the requirements. Such short sightedness has been the general fault with the progression of West Indies teams.

``The Caribbean wildly celebrated the fact that the West Indies cricket team, No 3 in the cricket world rankings, have beaten the No 7 ranked team. So what? Should that not have been expected? What about trying to beat Pakistan, Australia and South Africa? In the meantime, a great opportunity to blood future long-time players has been missed.

``One wonders what purpose does an 'A' team serve? Over three years ago wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs was selected to tour Sri Lanka with the 'A' team. He only reappeared last week, courtesy of an injury to a recycled Junior Murray.''


Source: The Electronic Telegraph
Editorial comments can be sent to The Electronic Telegraph at et@telegraph.co.uk
Contributed by CricInfo Management
help@cricinfo.com

Date-stamped : 05 Apr1998 - 12:25