I'd do it all again: Waugh

Steve Waugh said Australia would not have deserved to lose the drawn first test against New Zealand on Monday after their sporting declaration, adding he would not change his attacking tactics in future.

Australia lost the fourth Ashes test to England after stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist made another generous declaration, and they almost suffered a similar fate on Monday when the Kiwis made 274 for six off 57 overs after Waugh set them a target of 284 for victory.

Waugh said: "I'm happy we got a draw out of a tough match. We worked hard in the last 10 overs, we were desperate and we deserved to get a draw.

"Realistically, I thought we were the only team with a chance of winning today but the way they batted they gave themselves a chance and it was good for cricket."

Waugh stuck by his ambitious approach, which was also praised by rival captain Stephen Fleming.

"You may as well try and get a result out of the game and we really thought we could bowl New Zealand out with a good run chase," the Australia captain said.

"I was always going to try and force a result even before New Zealand declared."

There had seemed little hope of a result at the commencement of play after heavy rain disrupted the three previous days but Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming set up the prospect of a close finish when he declared New Zealand's first innings as soon as they reached 287 for eight to avoid the follow-on.

The Australians, leading by 199 after amassing 486 for nine in their first innings, then responded with 84 for two off just 14 overs before Waugh made his declaration less than an hour after lunch to give both teams a chance of winning.

Waugh went on: "There were moments there when New Zealand probably thought they could have won the game but I thought we were a chance of winning the game as well up until the last few overs."

He said the turning point came in the third last over when Ricky Ponting caught Chris Cairns on the boundary. The big-hitting all-rounder had smashed 43 off 38 balls to put his side within sight of victory.

"We played some pretty good cricket. Realistically, if it didn't rain, we would have won the game.

"But games can turn on little things. If that went for six, they would have won."

Mail Cricket Editor