Waugh 50-50 for final Ashes Test

Steve Waugh has made a rapid recovery from a torn calf muscle and now has an even chance of playing in the fifth and final Ashes Test, the Australian captain said on Tuesday.

Waugh said he would make a final decision after a team training session on Wednesday on the eve of the match at The Oval.

"I guess I'm somewhere around a 50-50 chance. I'm batting no problem in the nets, it's whether I can run fully between the wickets and field okay," he said.

"It's getting better every day. I have a good chance."

Waugh tore his left calf muscle in two places while batting in the third Test at Trent Bridge. Australia won that game by seven wickets to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series but lost the fourth test at Headingley under stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist.

The 36-year-old Waugh had all but ruled himself out of the rest of the series immediately after his injury but has since made surprising progress after intensive rehabilitation work on the calf.

Waugh said he would not play if team physiotherapist Errol Alcott advised against. Alcott said at the time of the injury nearly three weeks ago that it would take between four and six weeks to heal but said no one should write Waugh off because of his determination.

Waugh will be determined to play in what would probably be his last Test in England. Australia are likely to name their team at The Oval on Wednesday.

He added that Australia would go all out to win the final game. "There's no such thing as dead rubbers in my book," he said. "You are playing for Australia, it's special...dead rubbers are ridiculous."

Mail Cricket Editor