A special hundred for crisis man `Tugga'

The touring Australian team has been sponsored by a refrigeration company. The slogan of the ad that is being shown on the telly is "ice cool". That is probably the only adjective that can be used to describe the performance of the Australian skipper Steve Waugh. His 25th Test hundred came at a time when India had wrested the initiative both in the Kolkata Test and the series. So it was not a surprise when Waugh said at the end of the second day's play, "I do not know whether it is the most memorable of my Test centuries. However, it is the most satisfying one."

The hundred at the Eden Gardens is something very special for the Australian skipper. He puts it down to a number of reasons. "This hundred is special," said Waugh. "It was at this very ground that we won the World Cup for the first time in 1987. Then came the two knocks in 1998, when I missed out on a certain hundred because of an injury. My involvement with the Australian team and lastly because I had always wanted to get a hundred at the Eden. I have a hundred at Lords, one at Barbados and now one at the Eden Gardens. It is definitely a satisfying feeling to reach three figures at some of the most hallowed grounds where the game is played." Waugh, who was quite emotional after getting the three figure mark, also added that some places and knocks are always special. "You walk in to bat in an atmosphere that is initially hostile and then it turns into genuine appreciation as you reach a landmark. I am happy that in the end I have managed to get the appreciation at Kolkata. It is also a city that I love."

The Australian skipper said that once more the challenging situation had brought out the best in him. "Initially on Sunday, I was a bit relaxed. However, when we had collapsed to something around 260 for eight the grind began. I enjoyed it. However, it is wrong to call me a crisis man always. I have also failed to deliver when there has been pressure. I have now learned from experience. At times, a crisis brings out the best in me."

`Tugga' as he is popularly known amongst his team mates was quite confident about receiving support from the likes of Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath. "I always have full faith in my bowlers. We give them batting practice at the nets, so that in a particular situation, they can also score a few valuable runs." Asked whether he was apprehensive of failing to get a hundred as he had exposed McGrath for one full over to Zaheer Khan, Waugh said, "Our lower order has always delivered when it has mattered." The skipper however, was all praise for Gillespie. "He batted brilliantly, bowled well and is a very good fielder. Any captain would want him in the side." Talking about the Aussie revival, Waugh said, "It was possible because we believed in ourselves. This morning Gillespie told me not to worry about him and that I should play my normal game."

In the end, the Australian skipper felt that they probably had the best day of the series today. "It was a day when we batted well, bowled very well on a docile track and above all took some exceptional catches. There was a not a single aspect of the game where we failed. Probably this has been one day which I had been waiting for."

In spite of their performance in the last 16 Test matches, Waugh made it clear that at the moment, he was not calling his side the greatest ever cricket team. "That is for all of you to decide." But then, who would grudge his team that tag?