SYDNEY, Oct 23: Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has ruled out plans to enter politics, despite an approach from the opposition Labour party and an association with Prime Minister John Howard.

Howard launched Waugh’s autobiography, entitled Out of My Comfort Zone, on Sunday. The book went on sale last Friday.

“I was asked about my interest in politics but I’m not a politician,” Waugh told reporters at the launch.

“I’m not qualified; I don’t think I have the knowledge to be a politician.

“You’ve got to know something about everything and it’s a tough job.

“My passion lies elsewhere. You never say never but it’s certainly not on the radar.”

Waugh, 40, was asked to contest a federal seat in Sydney by former Labour leader Mark Latham, though he said the approach did not indicate his preference for either political party.

“I have had different politicians launch books on different occasions but that’s not to say I’m strong for one side or the other,” Waugh said before adding: “That was a good political answer actually.”

In extracts from the book printed in the Australian media, Waugh, who retired in January 2004 after 168 Tests and 10,927 runs, confirmed reports from the 1999 World Cup that leg-spinner Shane Warne had problems with his captaincy.

Waugh also said Warne, Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, was a fierce but insecure competitor.

The right-handed batsman spoke openly of being dropped from the Australian one-day side and said his place in the team had been under scrutiny since the 1999 World Cup.

Waugh’s place in 1999 was saved only by his match-winning century against South Africa in Leeds.

“I was a little shocked at how cut-throat the selectors’ attitude was,” Waugh wrote.

“I didn’t have a problem with the decision,” he said of his eventual 2002 dropping. “However, I did have an issue with the lack of man-management skills involved.

“Surely, after so many years playing and being the captain of a side that had been ranked number seven when I took over and was now number one, at least one phone call or conversation letting me know how the selectors saw the bigger picture would have been nice.

“The clinical efficiency of my dismissal stung me most because as a player I had always given everything.”—Reuters