Steve Waugh plans to retire after 2003 World Cup
Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has said he is planning to retire from the game after the 2003 World Cup.
In a TV interview, Waugh said though he has not made up his mind for sure but felt that this move would be ideal after the World Cup is over.
Expressing his views on the quality of his team, Waugh said: "I wish that my team be known as the world's best team. I want to establish a record that cannot be broken by any other team. This thought really inspires me. I had never thought that we would win so many matches, but now I want to win the 17th Test also."
Tendulkar a genius
Talking about the Indian players, Waugh said Sachin Tendulkar is a genius.
If Tendulkar keeps on playing the way he played in Mumbai, it would be impossible for anyone to beat him, Waugh said.
Comparing Brian Lara with Tendulkar, he said that Lara has his own strong points, but compared to Sachin's excellent techniques, he is no match.
Commenting on Indian captain Saurav Ganguly, Waugh said his counterpart is under tremendous pressure at the moment.
Right now about a billion people have their eyes set on him and this might affect his moves on the field, said Waugh.
About the present series, the Australian skipper said that though "we have won a match so far but we still have a long way to go before the series is over" and any comment at this point would be premature.
Trauma for Waugh family
Waugh also shared the experience his family went through time when twin brother Mark's name was dragged into the match-fixing controversy.
The whole family bore the brunt of the allegations unitedly. His father, who is a former cricketer and now in the business of selling newspapers, was very tense because the whole issue had been hyped up in Australian newspapers.
Talking about the match-fixing controversy, Waugh said he was really surprised when Hansie Cronje and Mohammed Azharuddin's names were also dragged into the controversy.
"The match-fixing controversy has really shaken the whole world of cricket. But the cricket fraternity would soon come out of these tough times," Waugh added.
Approach as a captain
Commenting on his style as a captain, Waugh said that he decides on an issue only after consulting his teammates.
"There are a number of very senior players in his team and I make the best use of their talents," he said.
Waugh said his support team - consisting a manager, a fitness consultant, a dietician, a psychologist, a physician and a coach - plays an important role in the team's performances.
A good captain should have the ability to motivate his colleagues and instil confidence in them, said Waugh.
According to him the captain's actions influence the players both on and off the field.
An inspiring captain
Waugh said he wants to be remembered as a captain who helped and motivated his team members to the maximum.
Talking about Don Bradman, who died recently, he said that he was a great personality and no team in the world could stand up to him. However, he did say that his present team can be ranked somewhere close to Bradman's Invincibles.
Waugh said association with NGO Udayan in Kolkata - which works for the betterment of leprosy patients -gives him a lot of mental satisfaction.
Waugh said his only grievance is that cricket keeps him away from his children and he cannot spend sufficient time with them.