The Hindu : Steve, a tough competitor: Tendulkar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 27, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Steve, a tough competitor: Tendulkar

MELBOURNE Nov. 26. Indian batsman Sachin Tendular, playing with his team in a three-day match here against Victoria, said Waugh was a tough competitor.

"I think he set great examples in the way cricket should be played and in tough conditions he would produce some tremendous performances," Tendulkar told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. "He was completely at a different level as far as mental toughness was concerned."

Tendulkar, who averages 56.57 to Waugh's 51.25 but has played 56 fewer Tests, said the fourth Test in Sydney would be special.

"It will be nice to play in front of the home crowd, for him I'm sure there will be a lot of support and he thoroughly deserves it. I think he's someone I've really admired, he's shown over the years that he's very gutsy and when the time demands it, he's there to deliver."

Tendulkar added that the people of India, where Waugh has supported charities for many years, would also miss him.

"I admire the work he does off the field as well, especially in Kolkata, and I'm sure people back home would be wishing well for him," said Tendulkar.

One of my heroes: Dravid

Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid said Waugh was someone he admired. "He's one of my heroes and someone I looked up to in international cricket — a great cricketer," said Dravid. "I had the opportunity to play against him and actually meet him, have a chat with him in the course of my career — I found that to be very helpful and beneficial."

Dravid described Waugh as one of his best opponents in international cricket. "He's very high up there, definitely . . . the intensity and the commitment he brought into his batting and cricket was phenomenal and great to watch," he said. "I was a bit surprised, to be honest, it's sad in a way."

Khalid Butt of the Pakistan Cricket Board said Waugh helped turn around the sport in Australia.

"He was a great player. He has left an immense impact on international cricket," said Butt. "He has played a great role in the reversal of Australian cricket fortunes and made it a world leader."

The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, said Waugh's opposition always respected him.

"He's been a wonderful captain, a wonderful batsman, a gritty, determined competitor," said Mr. Howard.

Udayan children both happy and sad

Also among those sorry to see him go are his friends at the charitable home for children of leprosy patients that Waugh supports in Kolkata.

"Well, it's both sad and happy news. Sad because we will miss his cricket, happy because it is his decision to say goodbye to the game on a high note," Santosh Das, a volunteer at the Udayan charitable home, told AP.

"Hopefully, he will now have time for all those things that he has always wanted to do. The children don't yet know that their `Uncle Steve' will stop playing cricket from January. We will tell them. I guess they will be sad to know this."

Waugh and his wife Lynette visited Udayan in July when they donated medical items worth A$50,000 ($35,000) to the home's 250 boys and 60 girls. Most of the children in the home are between five and 19 years of age.

Waugh makes regular financial contributions each year to the home.

Lasting legacy

Australian coach John Buchanan said Waugh had left a lasting legacy, both on and off the field.

"He's left a significant imprint not only on Australian cricket, I guess world cricket and even Australian society," he said. "He is going to be revered as one of the great leaders of Australian cricket and Australian sport."

Former teammate David Boon said Waugh's retirement was a major loss for cricket. "I feel very sad ... A player who is magnificent for Australia and truly deserves the word greatness put beside his name has retired from the game. It's a very sad loss for Australian cricket and indeed world cricket."

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor said he was pleased Waugh would go out on his own terms. "There are tough moments as a player," he said.

"I think Steve Waugh is one of those players who's had very few of those though. I think he's had a great career, he's been a wonderful performer for Australia for the majority of those 17 years, and I think he'll look back on those moments rather than the bad ones," said Taylor.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy said he most remembers Waugh's tenacity. "He is a guy who thrives when the battle is at its hardest, and tremendously loyal," said Healy. "He was at the crease for the right reasons and loved it when the action was at its hottest."

It was a measure of how close to his chest Waugh played his retirement options that even twin brother Mark admitted to being "out of the loop."

"I knew about eight o'clock this morning when Stephen rang me, when I was in bed actually," Mark Waugh said.

Former Australia captain Kim Hughes said Waugh was more than just a cricketer. "As far as Australia is concerned he is a great Australian," Hughes told reporters. "I think he's taken cricket to another level, he's not just a cricketer but a statesman."

Australia's current wicketkeeper and one-day vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said Waugh had been instrumental in restoring pride to the baggy green cap.

"I'm not saying players before him didn't play with pride and value it but he's the main driver behind that passion and the aura of the baggy green," Gilchrist said.

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