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| October 23, 2003 | Thursday | Sha’aban 26, 1424 |
Steve Waugh tells Bush he’s double-booked
MELBOURNE, Oct 22: Australia’s Test captain Steve Waugh will miss an opportunity to meet US President George W. Bush on Thursday because of a prior commitment.
Waugh, 38, who has led Australia to the top of the world rankings, will be attending the New South Wales state team’s 2003-04 season launch in Bowral, near Sydney.
A two-hour drive away in Canberra, Australian Prime Minister John Howard will be entertaining Bush at a barbecue at his residence, The Lodge, among the nation’s leading business and political figures.
“Unfortunately, he’s got other commitments,” Waugh’s manager Robert Joske told Melbourne’s Herald Sun on Wednesday.
“We stand on protocol here, and unfortunately he had accepted the team commitment to be in Bowral. He would have really thoroughly enjoyed it, and he’s quite disappointed he can’t go.”
Waugh is one of his country’s most well-known figures and Howard, a self-confessed “cricket tragic”, has joked in the past about which role is more prominent in Australian society, Test cricket captain or prime minister.
Aussies face tough challenge
SYDNEY: Australia face a tougher challenge in the triangular tournament in India starting this week than they did in the World Cup, captain Ricky Ponting said on Wednesday.
Back-up seamer Andy Bichel will lead the world champions’ pace attack because of injuries to Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.
The inexperienced Nathan Bracken and Brad Williams and recalled Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz will assist Bichel in the tournament which also involves New Zealand.
“We’ve got our backs to the wall a little bit with our injuries and preparations, but we won’t be using those as excuses,” Ponting told reporters at Sydney airport.
“Going to the World Cup as favourites and defending champions, we were under a fair bit of pressure there as well.
“But I think the side is going to be tested more this time, with the injuries we’ve got, to key places to key bowlers especially. It’s a big test for us.”
Leg-spinner Shane Warne’s understudy Stuart MacGill will also miss the series with a calf muscle injury. Warne’s 12-month doping ban ends in February.
New South Wales batsman Michael Clarke, 22, has replaced injured left-hander Darren Lehmann, who is acknowledged as one of Australia’s better players on turning wickets.
“Both sides that we’re playing against are very good one-day sides and they’ve been playing in those conditions for the last few weeks,” said Ponting, 28, who has a record of 37 wins from 47 matches as captain since succeeding Steve Waugh last year.—Reuters
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