October 25 Friday 2002
Team support won't influence Mark Waugh decision: Aussie selectors 

SYDNEY: Selectors won't be swayed by the support of Australian teammates for under-fire senior Test batsman Mark Waugh, the panel chairman Trevor Hohns said on Thursday. Pressure has been intensifying on the 37-year-old Waugh to hold down his place following a lean run of scores in recent series for Australia. 

The Australians thumped Pakistan 3-0 in a three-Test series in Colombo and Sharjah, but that might not be enough to save Waugh's place in the team for the coming Ashes series with England at home. Arriving home on Thursday from Sharjah, coach John Buchanan and players were united in their belief that Waugh should be picked for the Ashes Test series opener in Brisbane on November 7. 

But Hohns said the team support would not influence his panel when it meets this weekend to decide on the Test squad to be named on Monday. "The players are entitled to their opinion but, at the end of the day, we have to sit down and select the team," Hohns said on Thursday. 

"We've got a couple of things on our plate to discuss at length but I won't talk about any particular selection issues." The major issue is whether Waugh, twin brother of Test captain Steve, deserves to continue his 128-Test career after another unproductive series against Pakistan, scoring 80 runs from four innings. While he had averaged 35 or less in his last four series, Waugh says he is batting well enough to be named in the Ashes side. 

Buchanan had little doubt Waugh would be picked to face England. "The selectors have shown faith in all players and I would expect them to continue to show that faith," Buchanan said. "The side is going along in good shape and I would expect the selectors to take that into account. "(Mark Waugh) has been part of that side for a long period of time and he's occupied the No.4 position for a long period of time. 

"He is still one of the great fieldsman of all time so it will be a big decision for selectors to remove someone like Mark out of that side." Opener Matthew Hayden said Waugh would "get my vote - no doubt about it", adding his support to that of paceman Glenn McGrath who arrived home on Wednesday. 

National one-day skipper Ricky Ponting said Waugh had been unlucky in the Pakistan series. "He played particularly well in the first Test in Colombo," he said. "He made 55 and got out but then had a couple of good balls and in a three Test series a couple of good balls and a decision you're not happy with and all of a sudden the Test series is 
gone." Waugh now faces an anxious wait before learning if he will avoid the same fate which befell former teammate and record-breaking wicketkeeper Ian Healy, who was axed for the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba three seasons ago. "I'm playing well enough, I just haven't really made the big scores, but hopefully if I'm there in the first Test against England I'm pretty confident I can do well," Waugh said on Thursday. 

"(The speculation has) happened probably about the last three years, hopefully I can turn that around again and make some runs, but it's not the end of the world, is it really. "I can't do anything about it right now. Whatever's going to be is going to be." 

Paceman Brett Lee's recent record will also be discussed when selectors - Hohns, Allan Border, Andrew Hilditch and David Boon - meet by phone hook up over the weekend to settle on the squad. A key factor will be the fitness of strike bowler Jason Gillespie as they choose four pacemen to join spinner Shane Warne in the Australian squad. 

Lee took five wickets at an average of 46.80 against Pakistan, continuing a moderate run since he was injured against the West Indies two summers ago. But Buchanan said the 25-year-old was ready to show benefit from his series against Pakistan. 

Gillespie was forced home early from the Pakistan series with a calf muscle problem but was expected to be chosen if fit. Hohns said he had been told Gillespie was on track to return in a one-day match for South Australia on November 2.