Waugh admits Australia need young blood

Australia's ageing cricket team requires young blood and its selectors will soon have to confront a transitional period, captain Steve Waugh admitted on Wednesday.

"Yeah, I guess we're probably looking for some younger guys to put their hand up," Waugh said.

"I guess it's just that these days you probably don't notice it so much because the guys are playing beyond 30, whereas 10 years ago they weren't.

"They were retiring and you could see the young guys coming through."

Waugh nominated Shane Watson, 19, a product of the Australian Cricket Academy who made his maiden first-class century for Tasmania against South Australia last month, as an example of the young talent available in Australian cricket.

Australia won a world record 16 consecutive Tests before losing the second and third matches in their three-Test series defeat to India last month.

OLD FACES
Last week the Australian Cricket Board announced a 16-man squad for the five-Test Ashes tour of England this summer.

Australia's key players, including Waugh, 35, twin brother Mark, spinners Shane Warne, 31, and Colin Miller, 37, along with strike bowler Glenn McGrath, 31, give the squad an experienced look.

But that will have to change dramatically before Australia's next Ashes tour in 2005, he added.

An Australian newspaper report this week compared the side's present situation to that of the West Indies team of the 1980's.

They also dominated the game before the side suddenly began to age together and their fortunes have since gone in to a steep decline.

"It is an ageing side but I believe it's still a very good side," Waugh said.

"Obviously the selectors are going to have to make some changes.

"For instance, for the next Ashes tour in four years time there's going to be probably less than half the Ashes squad that's going over there (this year).

"So there's going to have to be changes ... The transition will hopefully be smooth."

Waugh also said the Australian players had been "put on notice" after several had disappointing tours of India last month.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne, Australia's greatest-ever wicket-taker, took only 10 wickets at more than 50 apiece in the three tests while batsman Ricky Ponting made 17 runs at an average of less than 4.

"I wouldn't say it's borrowed time but I think everyone's been put on notice and that's fair enough. We're professional players," Waugh said.

"I can handle that and I'm sure the other guys can. If you don't perform then no one's got a guaranteed right to be in the Australian cricket side."

Waugh was speaking to Australian Association Press as he prepared to captain a Prime Minister's XI against an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission chairman's XI in Canberra on Thursday.

Australia fly to England in late May for a triangular limited overs series against Pakistan and England before the first Test on July 5.

Mail Cricket Editor