Aussies don't sledge: Waugh

Steve Waugh says his Australian cricket team does not sledge opponents, instead they play a game of "mental disintegration".

Removing it would remove an important element of a tough sport, the Australian skipper says.

Waugh, speaking at Thursday's National Rugby League's grand final breakfast, again hit out a the new five-run penalty rule for sledging, which he has described as "ridiculous".

The Australians are renowned as the masters of the mind game, a reputation forged under Ian Chappell in the 1970s and carrying through to the current side under Waugh.

But the new rule is set to stifle verbal exchanges with the opposition on the field, with umpires given the power to penalise a player five runs for transgressions such as sledging or distracting opponents.

"I don't think we sledge," said Waugh, who has led Australia to 10 straight Test wins.

"I would prefer to call it mental disintegration.

"It's all part of the game. Test cricket is about not only testing your skill but testing your mind powers in certain situations, how you handle it."

Australia will play under the new rule for the first time in Test conditions against the West Indies later this summer. And Waugh warned his team-mates to expect a tough time from a West Indies side currently suffering through a trying tour of England.

The Windies' frail batting order was exposed again by England last week as they were bundled out for 61 in the fourth Test to fall behind 2-1 in five-Test the series.

But Waugh warned that former skipper Brian Lara always lifts against the Australians, his team need only look back to last year's tour to the Caribbean to find evidence of that.

Lara hit two centuries and averaged 91 as the sides squared the series 2-2.

"They will be tough in Australia, I certainly wouldn't write them off in Australia," Waugh said.

"I think Lara will fire up against Australia, he loves to play against us.

"He's the sort of guy who's very much up and down, and if something doesn't motivate him, he doesn't go out there and play well.

"But Australia really motivates him, particularly Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, so he'll play well.

As for his own future, Waugh is enjoying it too much to even contemplate stopping while the team's record-breaking rampage through Test cricket goes on.

"Not while we're winning," Waugh said of retirement plans.

"If we were losing it might be, but ... I like that pressure situation where, if I go into a situation where we're 3-30 and I'm not excited or pumped up or ready for the contest than it's time to walk away.

"If I lose that edge I'll walk away. I want to see Australia dominate cricket for quite a few years, not just one day cricket but Test cricket as well."

Mail Cricket Editor