CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Steve Waugh has hailed Australia's 1995 series in the Caribbean as the most exciting he has ever played in and promises more of the same absorbing stuff over the next two months.

The grittiest and most dependable batsman in world cricket is looking forward to his first assignment as captain of the world's No. 1 Test-playing nation.

``The last series I played here was the best cricket we have ever been involved in. It was a great series and I think you'll see that again,'' the veteran of 111 Tests told reporters moments after arriving at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday.

``We're here to try and win Test matches and I'm sure the West Indies will play that way. It's going to exciting cricket – hard, but fair,'' added the 33-year-old, who is on his third tour to the Caribbean.

Four years ago, Australia won the Frank Worrell Trophy with a 2-1 series win that ended a treasured unbeaten West Indies streak that stretched 15 years and 27 series.

The captain's view was shared by his vice-captain, Shane Warne, the 29-year-old leg-spinner who returned recently to the Test arena after a shoulder injury sidelined him for most of 1998.

``I'm expecting the West Indies to bounce back from their defeat against South Africa,'' Warne said. ``They are a side with a lot of pride and they've got some very good cricketers.''

Waugh and Warne were speaking during a two-hour stay in Barbados. They arrived abroad British Airways at 3:40 p.m. and were scheduled to catch a 6:35 p.m. BWIA flight bound for Antigua, venue for the opening tour match against a West Indies Board XI starting on Monday.

Waugh, a battle-hardened warrior who has been through it all since his debut in 1987, expects nothing sub-standard from a side that boasts of two world-class fast bowlers and three highly-rated middle-order batsmen.

``They like to play well in front of their home crowds. It's a pride thing. It's the culture over here,'' said Waugh, scorer of 7 213 Test runs at an average of 50.44.

``They've still got world-class bowlers and they've got (Brian) Lara, (Carl) Hooper and (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul in their batting line-up. You can't take anything for granted with quality players like that.''

Waugh, whose unbeaten 200 in the final Test of the 1995 series was one of the chief reasons why Australia came out on top, was wary about the impact Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh could create.

``I'm not going to be lulled by the fact that they are aging. I still think they are great bowlers, probably still the greatest combination in the world,'' he said.

Waugh is venturing into new territory, taking over the leadership from the astute Mark Taylor, but he anticipates no problems.

``I think we're the No. 1 Test side in the world. There is a lot of experience in the side and the guys know how to play Test match cricket,'' he said.