Steve Waugh praises Sourav Ganguly

Australian cricketing legend Steve Waugh, on Tuesday, praised former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, crediting him with having instilled toughness in the national side.

Calling Ganguly a “great captain”, Waugh said: “He brought toughness to the Indian side”.

However, Waugh parried a query on comparing Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captains.

“There are both good. But they are different as captains,” he told mediapersons at Udayan, a home for children of leprosy patients at Barrackpore, 25 kms from Kolkata. Waugh has been one of the major patrons of the home, where the children affectionately call him “Steveda” and “Steve uncle”.

Asked to predict the result of the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia, Waugh said it would be “an amazing result” if Australia managed to square the rubber 2-2. “It’ll be difficult,” he said.

Waugh stood by the beleagured Australian team led by Michael Clarke. “They are very young. It has the quality to emerge as a good side. But you have to give them some time.”

Waugh has been associated with Udayan since 1998, when during a tour to Kolkata for a Test match, he visited the sylvan surroundings of the Barrackpore home and offered to help in its running.

Returning next year, he participated in an auction dinner in the metropolis and raised funds which was used to set up a girls’ wing. Since then, Waugh has visited Udayan from time to time, shipping cots, medicine and gifts for the children. He has played Holi and cricket with the kids, with his wife Lynette and twin brother Mark accompanying him on occasion.