SYDNEY, Jan 10: So, what is retired Pakistan cricket great pacer-turned-commentator Wasim Akram's enduring memory of outgoing Aussie Test skipper Steve Waugh?

"Rawalpindi, 1995," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Wasim as saying.

"He (Waugh) didn't middle a ball in my spell - I was beating him and he was leaving a lot of balls."

"But he stood there and got 98 and that was very, very impressive. I just wanted to kill him, as a bowler. That was probably the quickest I've ever bowled.

"We were never very friendly, we were OK. But I always had respect for the way he led his team.

"From a captaincy point of view, you look at Steve when he's fielding and he's very calm. You can't tell any expressions on his face, so you always know he is in control.

"That's what you don't want to see in an opposition captain. He looks quite cool ... and you can never tell if the pressure is hurting him.

"He was one of the best I've played against. His cricketing skills, the way he set his field, changing his batting order, using different bowling spells and using them in short, hard spells...the whole lot. He's a great captain for all those reasons."

On Waugh's successor Ricky Ponting, Wasim said: "I think Ricky will be as good a captain as Steve Waugh, because he's positive. His batting shows he is positive and he's got sense now. Ricky has improved as a player and a captain."

On Waugh's appreciative hometown reception in the fourth and final Test against India at Sydney Cricket Ground, Wasim said: "Every sportsman should get a send-off like this. It's quite an occasion."

"Mine was very, very quiet. No one gave me any send-off. This is the right way to go," said Wasim.

"Steve deserves it and I think it's something to be proud of, that a lot of people are behind him today. He has done so much for his country and now the whole country is showing love back to him."-PPI