SYDNEY, June 6: Steve Waugh on Friday said he wants to continue playing Test cricket.

“I’m pretty keen,” Waugh said ahead of the July-August Test series to be played against Bangladesh in Cairns and Darwin, in Australia’s north.

“I haven’t made a final decision, but it’s all very positive. I’m preparing as if I’m going to keep playing.”

Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert confirmed on Friday that Mark Waugh had signed on for another season with New South Wales, saying the former Test batsman wanted to play another year of first-class cricket.

Steve, now 38, said he was looking forward to the different experience of playing in northern Australia and dismissed suggestions a series against Bangladesh, which has not won a Test in 18 attempts, was a waste of time.

“You’ve got to give them opportunities and chances and I think they have to get some help as well,” Waugh said.

“If it’s not happening at the moment and they are struggling, they need some help from elsewhere.

“Perhaps that’s Australian coaches or Australian knowledge or from somewhere else.

“The ICC (International Cricket Council) have got to look at that — I’m sure they will but it will take time.

“Sri Lanka is a perfect example, I think in only 10 years (from starting Test cricket) they won the World Cup, so anything is possible.

“It’s just a matter of having faith in these teams.”

As for the Australians’ motivation against playing the bottom-ranked Bangladeshis, Waugh said playing for their country should be enough and believed a whitewash in the two-Test and three one-day game series would only show that the team can continue to play at the highest level no matter who the opposition.

“From our point of view it (winning) paints a good picture. It shows we are professional and continue to have high standards,” he said.

“From Bangladesh’s point of view it’s just a learning process and hopefully they can take something out of it.”—Reuters