Saurav Ganguly showed 'lack of respect': Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh on his recent tour to India said that Sourav Ganguly may have exhibited a “lack of respect” by turning up late for the toss when India clashed with Australia during the historic 2001 Test series.

“The fact that he turned up late every game — it was his choice. I just thought it showed a lack of respect for the game. It didn’t really affect me. The match referee actually told him that he had to turn up on time,” Waugh was quoted by NDTV.

Although Ganguly denied Waugh’s claims and said that it had happened just once and not always.

“There is a tradition that both team captains have to sport the team blazer while going for the toss. On that particular day, I did not get my blazer and it took time to get hold of it… That was the reason for the delay,” Ganguly had said.

Talking about the ongoing Ashes test, Waugh believes that the Aussies will make a comeback in the remaining three Test matches.

“Australia have begun well the third Test at Old Trafford. Hope we can make a comeback in the remaining three Tests,” said Waugh. “The current Australian side is inexperienced, while England are experienced lot. We nearly won the first Test at Trent Bridge. So we need to just hang in there and have faith in our abilities.”

“The young Australian players are immensely talented. We have a lot of talent, especially in bowling department,” he added.

Speaking about the new young talent in the Aussie team, Waugh said: “Constant chopping and changing deters players’ confidence. The good thing that the selectors can do is to stick a team which they believe in. The players can use the opportunity to prove their abilities,” he said.

Waugh believes that Test cricket is really testing a player’s  competence in mental, physical and emotional terms.

“You can’t find such testing situations in Twenty20 cricket,” he said. “Try and play for your country in Test cricket first; all the other things will fall in place afterwards.”

Waugh also claimed to be the first one to discover back-of-the-hand slower ball.

“I was the first to discover backhand slower bowl. My advise to kids is that when you are practising in the nets, you should concentrate on adding variety to your bowling,” the former Australian captain signed off.