Waugh Gets Back In The Groove With Unbeaten Century
The Age
Wednesday February 20, 2002
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Steve Waugh has issued a warning to South Africa ahead of the three-Test series which starts in Johannesburg on Friday, saying he feels he has returned to a more familiar groove than the rut he inhabited through the Australian summer.
Waugh's struggles with the bat this season have captured almost as much attention as a Shane Warne soap opera, the Australian captain having averaged just 27.38 in six Tests and making only 187 at 31.17 in eight one-dayers.
His home summer ground to a bitter close when he was sacked from the one-day team.
But Waugh has responded with his finest innings of the season, and his initial first-class century of the summer, on the last day of Australia's rain-marred tour opener against South Africa A here yesterday.
After resuming on 91, Waugh cut off-spinner Goolam Bodi for four in the third over of the day to raise his 67th first-class ton, moving to equal-sixth on the all-time Australian list with Neil Harvey, one behind David Boon.
He promptly declared with the score 8/366, remaining 102not out.
Australia's bowlers began their practice for the first Test in fine style, with Glenn McGrath having opener Graeme Smith - called up yesterday to be South Africa's 12th man in the Test - well caught at third slip by Ricky Ponting in the first over.
While the opposition's attack was short of Test strength, Waugh looked at his most fluid and most damaging for months as he slammed 21 fours in 145balls.
``I felt really good from ball one. It was really encouraging. I felt comfortable - I clicked into gear straight away," said Waugh.
``It is a difficult wicket to bat on, very up and down and two-paced. It is probably a 250-wicket so we have done really well."
Waugh scored 12 boundaries between backward point and cover, providing the few fans at Potchefstroom's North West Stadium with a reminder that his trademark backfoot square drive was still sharp.
``I just feel nice and relaxed. I'm keeping things tight," he said. ``My backlift is a bit shorter and tighter. I feel more secure and comfortable in playing my shots.
``Balance is a key to my batting and I felt well balanced out there."
Waugh, who followed his replacement as one-day captain, Ponting, to a century in this match, denied he was out to prove a point over his demotion.
``I was no more determined than normal. That's over now. I am not going to use that as motivation now," he said.
``I just have to go out and play as well as I can. Whatever happened last week, I can't change that now.
``There is no point dwelling on that or using that in any way. It is just for me to have a good Test series and this is the best build-up I could have."
With Ponting making 120 and Waugh's beleaguered brother Mark 62, the Australian captain was confident his batsmen had made a smooth transition from one-dayers to first-class cricket ahead of the series that will determine the No.1-ranked side in Test cricket.
Australia's first-class century makers: Don Bradman 117; Mark Waugh 78; Greg
Chappell 74; Allan Border 70; David Boon 68; Steve Waugh 67; Neil Harvey 67;
Kepler Wessels 66; Tom Moody 64; Bob Simpson 60.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA: 1st innings
R
J LANGER b Hall 12
M HAYDEN lbw b Hall 18
R PONTING c Tsolokile b Bodi 120
M WAUGH c Prince b Henderson 62
S WAUGH not out 102
D MARTYN c Cullinan b Henderson 1
A GILCHRIST c Smith b Hall 16
S WARNE lbw b Hall 0
B LEE c Smith b Hall 6
J GILLESPIE not out 5
Sundries (8lb, 9nb, 7w) 24
TOTAL (for eight wickets dec) 366
FALL: 39, 52, 177, 271, 272, 319, 321, 332.
BOWLING: A Nel 25-5-75-0 (1nb), C Langeveldt 12-4-46-0 (1nb), A Hall 25-7-97-5
(3nb, 5w), CHenderson 19-3-74-2 (1nb), D Benkenstein 4-1-15-0 (1nb), G Bodi
13.5-1-51-1 (2nb, 2w).
BATTING TIME: 400 minutes. OVERS: 98.5.
© 2002 The Age