Two days ago there were many people in Australia who thought that Steve Waugh was past his sell-by date. The retrospectives were being written, his replacement being lined up. But after his hundred in the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah, Waugh is back in favour. "Old Waugh horse not ready for the knackery yet," was the headline in the Australian newspaper, reflecting the sentiment his innings stirred up.

"Never doubt the heart of a champion," wrote Jon Pierik in the Daily Telegraph, which celebrated Waugh's feat with the headline: "Insult awakens a sleeping giant" - a reference to Pakistan coach Richard Pybus's claim that Waugh was in a midlife crisis.

"Some doubted whether he still had the desire needed to prosper at the elite level while others felt his technique was shot and he was living off determination alone. So much for those theories," Pierik wrote.

Peter Roebuck, in the Sydney Morning Herald, was equally dismissive of Waugh's detractors. "He has survived his latest struggle with a difficult game that has defined his character and directed his life. His rugged effort in Sharjah means he is bound to lead Australia into this summer's Ashes series. Not that his place was in jeopardy, for this was a furphy spread by rivals and desperate Poms."

And Martin Blake in the Melbourne Age said that Waugh's century had resolved one part of what he called "cricket's Great Debate" but he pointed out that there was still one outstanding issue. "Only the position of his twin brother Mark remains unresolved, and on a knife-edge."

It wasn't just the media who were effusive in their praise for Waugh. John Howard, Australia's prime minister, joined in. "He's gone through the horrors and copped a lot of flak," said Howard. "It shows what a tough, resilient bloke he is and of course what a wonderful cricketer he is."

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