After a day of being lambasted by the press for his comments about Steve Elworthy, Steve Waugh hit back, claiming that the media had misquoted him. The trouble started during a press conference on Wednesday when South Africa's captain Shaun Pollock was explaining that Elworthy, who was struck on the head by a Glenn McGrath bouncer, had undergone a scan which had revealed no serious damage. It was claimed that Waugh was heard to say, "Yeah, and I bet they didn't find a brain either."

But Waugh insisted that he had not made the comment. "The quote was not a correct quote," he said. "There were words there that I did not say. But I don't really want to drag on about it, because it was a private conversation, and was not meant to be heard by anyone else.

"It was not meant to be offensive. It obviously has been seen as that way."

And he went on to lambast the media for stirring up the furore. "There have been misquotes and things made up this year, which has been disappointing. I realise that you guys have got jobs, but I think the integrity is what is at stake.

"I am pretty honest in my observations and answers, and I expect it back from the press as well."

Waugh added that he had telephoned Elworthy to apologise for the misunderstanding.

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