Ahmed_B
April 13, 2006, 03:04 PM
Waugh says heavy schedule backfired
By Jon Pierik
April 14, 2006
CRICKET great Steve Waugh says Australia's cramped schedule had backfired as the world champions escaped with a three-wicket win over minnows Bangladesh yesterday.
Australia is at the end of an almost continuous run of tours stretching back to its India campaign in mid-2004 - including two domestic summers, a New Zealand tour, the Ashes, a tour of South Africa and Bangladesh.
Australia - who was expected to cruise the first Test in Dhaka - looked exhausted, with Brett Lee conceding they were "running on fumes".
"I think they thought they would knock them over," Waugh said yesterday. "There's no way you'd play five Tests in a row against any nation. It's physically and mentally exhausting.
"You wouldn't do that against anyone and it's backfired on them.
"Mentally it's such a tough ask, to travel and just have a few days break between that last Test in South Africa.
"That was a really tough Test match. It usually takes a week to get over a game like that.
"Our guys just look tired. They weren't with it on the first day. It's the worst they've played in a long time."
Waugh spoke after Australian Cricketers' Association boss Paul Marsh said the tight, money-driven schedule had made the players "ships to go out there and earn money".
Marsh is heavily involved in the scheduling but his thoughts were at odds with ACA president, Ian Healy.
"It's a fact scheduling is going to be tight. Players want short tours so they can have more of them," Healy said.
Former Test bat Dean Jones called Australia "arrogant" for the whistle-stop itinerary.
But Waugh hopes that Bangladesh's performance - the lowest-ranked Test nation had won only one Test from 41 before this series - will be a turning point in their short history.
"The positive to come out of it has been Bangladesh," he said. "It's been great for them. They'll get so much confidence out of a performance like that. It could well be the turning point for cricket in that country.
"I think those positives outweigh the negatives for us. This will strengthen world cricket. You're really seeing the birth of a cricketing nation."
Former Test paceman Rodney Hogg said Ponting should be now known as the "little master" after his match-winning undefeated century - the 31st of his career.
"Bradman was the little master. I think you can start calling Ponting the little master of the new century."
The second Test begins in Chittagong on Sunday.
Herald Sun
Link: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18808690-23212,00.html
By Jon Pierik
April 14, 2006
CRICKET great Steve Waugh says Australia's cramped schedule had backfired as the world champions escaped with a three-wicket win over minnows Bangladesh yesterday.
Australia is at the end of an almost continuous run of tours stretching back to its India campaign in mid-2004 - including two domestic summers, a New Zealand tour, the Ashes, a tour of South Africa and Bangladesh.
Australia - who was expected to cruise the first Test in Dhaka - looked exhausted, with Brett Lee conceding they were "running on fumes".
"I think they thought they would knock them over," Waugh said yesterday. "There's no way you'd play five Tests in a row against any nation. It's physically and mentally exhausting.
"You wouldn't do that against anyone and it's backfired on them.
"Mentally it's such a tough ask, to travel and just have a few days break between that last Test in South Africa.
"That was a really tough Test match. It usually takes a week to get over a game like that.
"Our guys just look tired. They weren't with it on the first day. It's the worst they've played in a long time."
Waugh spoke after Australian Cricketers' Association boss Paul Marsh said the tight, money-driven schedule had made the players "ships to go out there and earn money".
Marsh is heavily involved in the scheduling but his thoughts were at odds with ACA president, Ian Healy.
"It's a fact scheduling is going to be tight. Players want short tours so they can have more of them," Healy said.
Former Test bat Dean Jones called Australia "arrogant" for the whistle-stop itinerary.
But Waugh hopes that Bangladesh's performance - the lowest-ranked Test nation had won only one Test from 41 before this series - will be a turning point in their short history.
"The positive to come out of it has been Bangladesh," he said. "It's been great for them. They'll get so much confidence out of a performance like that. It could well be the turning point for cricket in that country.
"I think those positives outweigh the negatives for us. This will strengthen world cricket. You're really seeing the birth of a cricketing nation."
Former Test paceman Rodney Hogg said Ponting should be now known as the "little master" after his match-winning undefeated century - the 31st of his career.
"Bradman was the little master. I think you can start calling Ponting the little master of the new century."
The second Test begins in Chittagong on Sunday.
Herald Sun
Link: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18808690-23212,00.html