5 Best Innings of Steve Waugh

We will here have a look at the five best innings of Steve Waugh, a captain who always lead from the front with his fantastic batting perfromances. He has played many fantastic knocks in his career and shaped the young Australian side into an unbeatable force. As an Australian he had that natural fighting spirit. Here’s the list:

5. 157 vs Pakistan

The Rawalpindi wicket was expected to assist spinners after a day or two. Pakistan batting first in the first Test of the series could only manage to score 269, thanks to Saeed Anwar’s lone battle of 145. Australia looked in trouble when Steve Waugh walked out to the middle to join the opener Slater. Waugh showed a determined approach to hang in and Slater also was replicating the technical theoretical batting on the field. They both added 198 runs together. After Slater got out, Waugh continued with Lehmann and together they made a century partnership. By the time he got out for 157, Australia had a comfortable cushion under their seat and they ended up winning the Test by an innings.

4. 120* vs South Africa

This was one of the knocks that whole of Australia would cherish in their memory lane. Australia were struggling with early jolts chasing the target of 272 in a do or die super six match of the 1999 World Cup. Then the skipper took charge along with his successor Ponting who blasted their way out against the South Africans. Ponting also departed, but Waugh held on and had crucial partnerships with Beven and Moody to see his team through with only two balls to spare. However, Waugh was dropped on 56 by Gibbs but eventually after that he got even more focused and went on to score an unbeaten 120 of only 110 balls.

3. 94* vs England

Waugh came out to bat in the first innings of the second Ashes Test in 1994 in Melbourne when Australia were 4 down for just 100. Steve then with his brother Mark tried to consolidiate and added important runs together but Mark couldn’t last for long and he got out leaving his brother a tough ask in the middle. Thereafter nobody was able to support Waugh and Australia got all out for only 279, but he remained not out and scored 94 runs.

2. 72* vs West Indies

Both the hosts and the visitors were looking forward to take a crucial lead in 5th ODI of the 7 matches series in the Carribean islands. Rain hit the game to make it 30 over per side. The hosts scored 173 batting first. Australia were losing wickets in a hurry but Steve Waugh was firm on his end and finally he found a partner in Shane Warne who managed to give strike back to Waugh on a regular basis. He on the course of chasing 174 completed his half century and looked solid to see his team through. But at the end the match ended in a tie when 3 runs were required of the last ball and both managed to run only two.

1. 200 vs West indies

Australia were having some tough times in the second innings of the last Test of the series in Kingston before the Waugh brothers got together to build a partnership of around 250 runs. By now Australia had taken a comfortable lead and Mark’s wicket was not a big deal now. But still Steve was hungry for more. He kept his head still and kept on scoring and reached his maiden and only double ton. He was the last to get out for Australia, but his magnificent knock had brought his team in to the driving seat and from there on Australia steered themselves to an innings triumph to seal the series 2-1. Waugh was named the man of the match and series.