October 25 Friday 2002
Australian coach backs Mark Waugh 

BRISBANE: Australia's cricket coach John Buchanan has backed under fire batsman Mark Waugh and recommended that selectors retain the existing lineup for next month's series-opening Ashes Test against Brisbane. Buchanan, who arrived in Brisbane on Thursday following Australia's 3-0 series win over Pakistan in Sri Lanka and at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, said Mark Waugh was an experienced batsman who deserved another chance. 

Mark Waugh, twin brother of Australian skipper Steve, scored 80 runs in the series against Pakistan. The Waugh brothers, aged 37, were under intense pressure to retain their spots on merits for the five-Test series against England, although Steve Waugh responded with an unbeaten century in the third test in Sharjah to keep his critics at bay. 

"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."

Buchanan said Waugh had batted successfully at No. 4 for Australia for a long time and was "still one of the great fieldsman of all time, so it will be a big decision for selectors to remove'' him. Mark Waugh has played 128 Tests since his debut against England in 1990-91 and has scored 8,029 runs at an average of 41.81 per innings. Australian selectors will announce the Test squad on Monday. The series starts Nov. 7 at the Gabba, Brisbane.