Guard of honour for outgoing Walsh

The Australian cricket team formed an impromptu guard of honour to show their respect for West Indies fast bowling icon Courtney Walsh when he came out to bat for the last time in Australia in Sydney on Friday.

Walsh, 38, only six short of taking 500 Test wickets, walked out onto the Sydney Cricket Ground in his customary No.11 spot to adoring acclaim from the crowd.

With the fans on their feet, cheering, the Australian players formed a guard of honour as Walsh approached the wicket.

Australian offspinner Colin Miller said the idea of saluting Walsh was something captain Steve Waugh had devised on the spur of the moment.

"We hadn't planned it," Miller said. "As he came out Steve said, 'I think we should do something here -- it's going to be Courtney Walsh's last time on the ground as a batsman'.

"It was Steve's idea and I think it was a nice little touch for a player who's played 16 or 17 years of Test cricket -- I think he deserved something like that."

A few words of congratulations were exchanged and Walsh scored a quick single, hobbling to the other end.

Walsh, assuming he is fit and selected, has signalled his intention to play another series against South Africa in the Caribbean in March when he would hope to finally break through the 500-wicket barrier.

The affable Jamaican has played through plenty of injuries in his career but will need painkillers to bowl on Saturday after injuring the instep of foot on Thursday morning.

He has taken a world record 494 Test wickets.

Mail Cricket Editor