November 01 Friday 2002
Steve Waugh concedes battle for Cup place almost lost

SYDNEY: Australia's World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh conceded on Thursday his chances of helping defend the trophy at next year's tournament in Southern Africa are small.

The 37-year-old Test campaigner played one of the great World Cup innings, an unbeaten 120 from 110 deliveries, on the way to the final where Australia beat Pakistan to be crowned world champions for a second time. 

But after 325 appearances, the last in February this year against South Africa, Waugh was dropped from the limited-overs side and Ricky Ponting was installed as captain.

It was the first major step taken by the Australian selectors to reshape the team for next year's World Cup. Waugh pledged to fight for his place but is available for only a handful of NSW one-day games before Ponting's squad jets off to South Africa, leaving little time to convince the selectors. And though he would relish the chance of appearing in a fifth World Cup, Waugh on Thursday pointed to the strength of the current one-day squad and admitted his one-day international career was probably at an end.

"Realistically, there won't be too many changes for that squad to South Africa, but I want to put myself in with a chance and if they need me I'm available," he said. 

"If it happens it happens. I don't think you could put a percentage on it, but it would be 50 percent and probably a lot lower than that at this stage.

"I think it's a pretty low chance, but there is a chance."

Waugh will make one of his rare state appearances for New South Wales in a one-day match against South Australia on Saturday.