News

'I feel like I'm 20': Steve Waugh

So when is Steve Waugh retiring

Wisden CricInfo staff
03-Jun-2003
So when is Steve Waugh retiring? Not anytime soon, going by his latest comments. In an interview with Reader's Digest, Waugh said that he still has a lot of cricket left in him.
"I know I'm 38 now," said Waugh, "but cricket-wise I feel like I'm 20. I can learn. I think I can improve. I don't dwell on what I have done -- it's what I haven't done."
For a long time now, Waugh's career has seemed to be winding down. He was dropped from Australia's one-day team in the beginning of 2002 and was ignored for the World Cup. In the last Australian summer, there were even calls to drop him from the Test team but he silenced his critics with his 29th Test century -- equalling Don Bradman's record -- in a memorable final Test against England.
The selectors persisted with him for the West Indies tour and Waugh justified the faith reposed in him with another century as he led the way to a 3-1 victory in the Caribbeans. But at 38, is he too old to go on?
"I don't think age should be a factor in anything," Waugh said. "If you're doing the job and you're good at it and you've acquired all that experience over the years, it seems strange to say: 'let's get rid of this bloke and the start the process all over again'. As long as you're competitive and fit, age has nothing to do with it."
Waugh said that he was training harder on his fitness than ever before. Bangladesh, look out.