Steve Waugh urges Australia to stick with their top six batsmen in the immediate future

Steve Waugh, former captain of the Australian cricket team

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has urged the Australian team to stick with their top six batsmen, despite the recent run of poor performances.

Darren Lehman, the present coach of the Australian team had blamed the batsmen for losing the fourth Ashes Test, and had said that apart from Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers none of the other batsmen could take their places for granted in the side.

Steve Waugh on the other hand, was of the opinion that batsmen on the fringes could not perform at optimum levels if their places in the side were not guaranteed.

“Look at Phil Hughes, he’s been up and down the order and has been dropped three or four times in 20 Tests. That doesn’t give you much confidence,” Waugh said, as reported by Times of India.

“Usman Khawaja is another example.

“If you’ve got the axe hanging over your head always it is really hard to relax and play your natural game.

“Selectors have got to say: ‘We’re going to go through some tough times, but these are the six or seven batsmen we believe in and we’re going to back them even if they don’t succeed straight away.”

Waugh who himself had played 25 Test matches before he scored a century and had played 12 matches for Australia before they could win a Test match, epitomised the need for selectors to show faith in the selected players.

Once Steve Waugh settled into the team, he rose to become one of Australia’s most successful captains and led them to a winning streak of 16 Test matches in succession.

“It took a long while for me to get it right as well,” Waugh said. “But I had the benefit of getting it wrong. Right now, the selectors need to pick and stick and show confidence in players.”