Steve Waugh has been tight-lipped about his sacking from the Australian one-day side, but there are plenty others who have had a word or two to say. Tom Bowtell rounds up the best of the quotes Current players
"I don't think he was a weak link … he probably didn't perform as well as he would have wanted to in the [recent] one-day [series] but I didn't think he would be left out." Shaun Pollock, South African captain

"I don't know what the Australian board have in their minds, but the sacking of Steve Waugh has really surprised me … he has been the most positive captain ... I still think Steve Waugh is the best one-day captain and player. He had the guts to take risks." Wasim Akram, Pakistan

"I am shocked and surprised. He is the key man in the Australian team. This is probably the worst decision they could have taken." Sourav Ganguly, Indian captain

"I think Stephen Waugh has copped an absolute hammering in the Press lately but to me Stephen has been someone with strength of character." Matthew Hayden, Australia

Former players
"The lack of respect and courtesy shown by the selectors has made this saga far more acrimonious than it need have been." Ian Healy, Australia

"On his form since the World Cup he should have given it away. I have been a fan of his but there comes a time when you've got to say you're not doing the job." Jeff Thomson, Australia

"Time will tell whether they've got it right but I think the selectors have gone into panic mode a little early." Doug Walters, Australia

"The selectors got it right. It was a tough decision but a right decision. He's batting at No.5 and not bowling. We don't have an allrounder apart from Gilchrist. That is hurting Australia. I think (Waugh) would still be there if he could bowl." David Hookes, Australia

"As soon as you lose, then people are calling for your head. I simply can't understand the timing, and if it was done, as we've heard, just before the Allan Border Medal (on Monday night), that seems to me to be stupid." Richie Benaud, former Australian captain

"I'll bet my house that he'll be in the World Cup. He's good enough to get back. He will not sulk or put his head between his legs. He'll come out fighting." Dean Jones, Australia

"It shows that the selectors have a very short memory. One bad series in 15 years and he is out of the squad. It is a wrong move and it may affect the performances of the other players. This is no time to experiment." Former Indian captain, Ajit Wadekar

"I thought it was grossly unfair, even cruel, to drop him after just one poor series." Former Indian captain, Bishan Bedi

The ACB
"Making this decision has been extremely difficult and it is not one that anyone likes but as selectors our responsibility is to pick what we believe to be the best side for Australia. We believe that there are now players ahead of Steve for one-day selection." Trevor Hohns, chairman of selectors

"I can remember putting the phone down and feeling physically ill about the decision we had come to as selectors." Allan Border, selector and former Australian captain

"The selectors have one primary obligation to Australian cricket and that is to pick the team that in their judgement is the best side to represent our country. As difficult as it might be, they have taken this decision to fulfil this obligation." James Sutherland, ACB chief executive

The Coaches
"I'm shocked and disappointed" John Buchanan, Australian coach.

"What is amusing though is the thin line between success and failure. But for one bonus point he (Waugh) would be over here smelling of roses and everything would be fine." Graham Ford, South African coach

The Press
"We would love to see him come back, for he deserved a better deal. For cricket deserves to see more from him." Rajesh Kumar, India Times

"If Australia are 70 for 3 in the World Cup semi-final and the pavilion gates open, who do you want to see emerging?" Peter Roebuck, Sydney Morning Herald

"The selectors feel there are batsmen around who can now do better than Waugh. There might be, although the identities of said players hardly spring to mind." Mike Coward, The Australian

"The price you pay for not retiring on top is that you throw yourself at the whims of the selectors and every other harsh-marking judge in the country." Robert Craddock, The Brisbane Courier-Mail

"Around 80 per cent of respondents to a poll on one of the most popular morning radio news programmes opposed the sacking." Richard Bright, The Daily Telegraph, London

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