STEVE WAUGH
Former famous Australian captain Steve Waugh wears another honor in his cap. He is today introduced into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame along with three others. Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram also included into the ICC Hall of Frame. Herbert Sutcliffe, Clarrie Grimmett and Victor Trumper were the other three persons. Steve Waugh said that it is a great honor to include him in the ICC Hall of Frame. This honor is a symbol for a decent career. He captained the team from 1999 to 2004. He is one of the best captains that Australia had.
BIOGRAPHY
Steve Waugh was born at 2 June 1965 in Campsie, a suburb in South-Western Sydney. He was one of the twin boys born to Rodger and Beverley Waugh. His father was a bank officer and his mother was a teacher. Waugh is married to Lynette and has three children. From an earlier age, the parents introduced their children in sports. By the age of six he started playing soccer, tennis and cricket. In his first cricket match, he was dismissed for ducks. His Grand father Rodger Edward was a former promising tennis player. He made his debut at the Bankstown District under-10s at the age of eight. The twins were a key part of their school’s consecutive cricket championship and school tennis team. In his final year, Steve was the vice-captain of the cricket team and captained the state soccer team. He made his senior grade cricket debut in 1979–1980. At the end of 1980, the twins were selected in the state under-16 teams for the national carnival. He was regarded as an aggressive player. The twins finished the school at the end of 1983. He made 170 against national public school. The brothers were then selected for Australia for the first time. They had been named in the national under 19 teams to play a test and ODI series against Sri Lanka. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales. He made his test debut against India in the 1985–86 season. He had good all-round match in the Second Test at Christchurch, making 74 and claiming 4/56. In 1987 World cup, played on the India sub continent was a turning point in his career. He was a key player as Australia defended a target of 254 against England at Kolkata. Australia won by 7 runs in this match to achieve the World cup for the first time. The performances in tight situations earned him the nickname of “Iceman”. Waugh started the 1995–96 Australian season ranked as the world’s leading Test batsman. He made an unbeaten 112 as Australia defeated Pakistan in the First Test at Brisbane and scored 200 runs at 50.00 for the series. He took the captaincy in 1997-1998 after captain Mark Taylor. He succeeded as Test captain in 1999, and began with a torrid 2-2 draw in the Caribbean. With his captaincy Australian team won the 1999 world cup. He finally retired at the end of the 2003-04 series against India, bowing out with 80. He played 165 tests and 325 ODI matches. He scored 10,927 and 7,569 runs in tests and ODI’s respectively.
AWARDS AND HONORS
On 3 February 2009 Steve Waugh became the 30th cricketer into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal on July 2000. He was also awarded the “Australian of the Year award” in 2004.He was appointed as an officer of the order of Australia for service to cricket as a leading player, and to the community, particularly through the Udayan children’s home. He is an Australian living treasure. He worked as an athletics liaison officer for Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.He won the Allan Border Medal as Australia’s best player of 2001.
