Friday, February 15, 2002 Over the last ten years, the selectors have been pretty consistent when it comes to axing their legends, so this decision didn't surprise me one bit. That's not to say I agree with it though. Steve was clearly down on enthusiasm and energy during the VB Series - and the knives had been out for his brother all season - but the lack of respect and courtesy shown by the selectors has made this saga far more acrimonious than it need have been.

Neither of the Waughs has been in an extended period of poor form, but the big difference between them and the rest is their age. The selectors do have to keep one eye on the future, but surely they could have taken the guys aside a month ago and given them a dig in the ribs - "we want this out of you and we want this out of the team, or else we will be forced to make changes". I'm pretty certain that didn't happen.

Now that Steve is gone, I'm certain that Mark Waugh will be out of the side in a month or two as well, and Shane Warne - 32 and rising - will be getting the message. It's drastic, but it's the way of the Aussie selectors.

But I still believe that Steve will make the World Cup. This will spur his attitude like nothing else. The World Cup is still a year away, and by then he'll be playing as well as anyone in the side. He is still the captain of the Australian Test side, and though it will be odd to step down for the one-dayers, he will not be seen as an outcast in the slightest. He is hugely respected by all, and if he converts his Test form into good runs in the domestic one-day competitions, he won't give the selectors a moment's peace.

Stephen has two ways to deal with this setback. Either he gets into the South African tour, rallies the side like he failed to do in the VB Series and lifts his enthusiasm for the game. Or he looks back on the injustice of it all, lets his form slide, and slips out of the reckoning. There's only one way for him to go - and that's hard and fast. Otherwise it's time for him to jack it in and get back to spending time with the family.

There are three obvious candidates for the succession: Warne, Ponting and Gilchrist. Of the three, Gilchrist would seem to be the favourite, and he has offered to drop down the batting order to make it possible. Gilchrist has not done anything not to deserve his chance - he's been an able deputy to Waugh and would fit the bill. Shane Warne - well, does he deserve it? He's been in poor form lately, though that's not saying much, as none of the contenders were in top gear at the end of VB Series. A lot will depend on how the board regards his off-field behaviour.

Darren Lehmann has been mentioned a couple of times, but he is an unrealistic option, and to promote him would be to treat the other guys very poorly. His mobility and durability are questionable as well - he tends to get injured more often than most. No, I don't believe he's a candidate at all.

Steve Waugh was tired and frustrated - with his team and with his form. He got ratty with the media, and he was not careful about the messages he was putting across. In terms of his career average he wasn't underperforming, but with the top-order so fragile he was unable to make the big scores that matter. There was something badly wrong with the dynamics of the team, and the messages from the captain and the coach were clearly not hitting home. The selectors could have taken him aside and pulled him into line, but that's not their way.

Ian Healy, one of the game's greatest wicketkeepers, is now a commentator for Channel 9 in Australia and a regular contributor to Wisden.com. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

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