September 27 Friday 2002
Waugh impressed by English standards, young players 

COLOMBO: Australia Test captain Steve Waugh says his spell with county side Kent has left him impressed with the standard of the English game and the young players it is producing. "There are plenty of good youngsters there and English cricket is definitely on the way up," he told reporters in Colombo as he prepared for Australia's three-match Test series against Pakistan that begins in the city on October 3. 

"There was one fast bowler at Kent, Martin Saggers, who I thought deserved a closer look, I saw (James) Anderson of Lancashire and we played against a 17-year-old (Nick Thornicroft) for Yorkshire in the last match. "Things are definitely going in the right direction." 

Waugh played for Kent for just over a month from mid-August as he warmed up for the Pakistan series, replacing fellow Australian Andrew Symonds who was on duty with Australia A in South Africa and Australia's one-day side in Kenya. The 37-year-old scored 224 runs in four first-class matches with a top-score of 146 in his last match against Yorkshire, as well as 159 runs from five one-day games. 

Waugh, who played for Somerset in the late 1980s, enjoyed the experience of returning to county cricket and has received offers to return in 2003. But he said: "There are always approaches but I'm not sure what I'll do next year and whether I want another five months of county cricket." Waugh was quick to play down the claim his primary reason for going to England was to spy on players ahead of the Ashes series against England that begins in early November. But he did say he saw several of the tour party in action, including young fast bowlers Steve Harmison of Durham and Glamorgan's Simon Jones. 

He said: "They've both played a Test match, done well and both of them are quick so people will think they are suited to Australian wickets. "It's a lot different getting out there and bowling and getting the right lengths and being pressurised by Australia, but it's a big opportunity for those guys."