Waugh rescues an innings in distress

MELBOURNE, Feb 5 AAP - Steve Waugh may as well have ridden a white charger into the middle of the MCG today.

The man who has forged a 20-year cricket career on rescuing innings in distress did it again on the opening day of NSW's critical Pura Cup match against Victoria.

With NSW reeling at 2-0 after four overs and its hopes of a Pura Cup final berth looking as sick as the scorecard, the Blues skipper strode to the crease with his team's season on the line.

And as he has done so often, Waugh was still there at the close of play 334 minutes later - unbeaten on 125, a 72nd first-class century in his keep and his side in control at 4-279 in their first innings.

"It's a good challenge," Waugh said of coming in with his side in desperate trouble.

"Obviously those are the times I play my best cricket.

"It was tough out there for the first couple of hours and after that, the wicket seemed to flatten out.

"I feel pretty good. I've been hitting the ball really well for a long time now.

"Now I'm looking forward to making a big one tomorrow."

In a match in which the winner will have the inside running for a Pura Cup final spot, the second-placed Bushrangers will rue allowing the third-placed Blues off the rack.

Paceman Shane Harwood had rocked the Blues early on a lively pitch, despatching Michael Slater and Simon Katich for ducks to leave NSW at 2-0.

Enter Waugh - though he did have an early life when Victorian debutant David Hussey failed to hold a hot overhead chance at first slip when the Australian skipper had only made three.

That allowed Waugh and Greg Mail to put on a 110-run salvage operation before Mail became Harwood's third victim for 57.

Australian cricket's brightest young hope Michael Clarke then joined Waugh, terrorising the Victorian bowlers with a dashing 78 off 119 balls as part of a 138-run stand.

As the speculation continues about when Waugh will retire from Test cricket, his innings today proved again that if you were to choose an Australian to bat for your life, 37-year-old Waugh would still be the man for the job.

But he was still refusing to give anything away about how long he will continue to play international cricket.

"I think I'm playing good cricket," Waugh said.

"I felt really relaxed today and I'm hitting the ball the best I have in a long time."

Waugh will resume tomorrow alongside brother Mark, who is unbeaten on 14.

Play will start 22 minutes early tomorrow to make up for five overs lost today when stumps was called early after a heavy downpour of rain.