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I think it came as a surprise to the rest of the side and probably to most of the population. I'm not a selector so my opinion counts for nothing but to lose someone of Steve's calibre, even as just a player and not a captain, is tough and he will be hard to replace. The fact that he was also the captain adds another dimension to the loss.
- Aussie coach John Buchanan
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I'd feel very comfortable moving into the role. I've got the few games under my belt as captain for Tasmania at start of the season. It's something that sits really well with me. Out on the field I try to think like a captain anyway. The chances I had in England, I enjoyed it and I performed pretty well.
- Ricky Ponting
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I'm surprised because for the last three years he had won so many tournaments, and just because of his team not making to one final he has been removed. I don't know what the ACB have in mind. This is not good because this will not inspire confidence into the man taking over the captaincy
- Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram
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Of course this is an extremely disappointing decision. The challenge for me is to now ensure that the Australian Test team wins the series against South Africa and to play well enough to force my way back into the one-day team.
- Steve Waugh
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Time will tell whether they have got it right but I think they have gone into panic mode a little too early. Let's worry about the World Cup when the World Cup comes along. I think they should pick the best side on the day. We play a few teams before World Cup. I think they have panicked a little.
- Aussie legend Doug Walters
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The selectors got it right. It was a tough decision but a right decision. He's batting at No.5 and not bowling. We don't have an all-rounder apart from Gilchrist. That is hurting Australia. I think (Waugh) would still be there if he could bowl.
- Former Aussie Test batsman David Hookes
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The selectors made a tough decision but you have to know the dynamics of the team to know whether they made the correct decision.
- Former Test stumper Ian Healy
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On his form since the World Cup he should have given it away. I have been a fan of his but there comes a time when you've got to say you're not doing the job.
- Former Aussie Test bowler Jeff Thomson
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Making this decision has been extremely difficult and it is not one that anyone likes but as selectors our responsibility is to pick what we believe to be the best side for Australia. We believe that there are now players ahead of Steve for one-day selection
- Chairman of Selectors, Trevor Hohns
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I can remember putting the phone down and feeling physically ill about the decision we had come to as selectors.
- Former Aussie Test skipper Allan Border
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It was a great shock to me because I suppose it underlines the fact that you don't lose. As soon as you lose, then people are calling for your head. I simply can't understand the timing, and if it was done, as we've heard, just before the Allan Border Medal (on Monday night), that seems to me to be stupid.
- Former Australia captain Richie Benaud:
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I think the writing has been on the wall yes, just during this season. Things certainly haven't gone his way. I think it will be very hard for him to force his way back into the side, mainly because he is 36 and a half now.
- Former Test captain Mark Taylor
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I'll bet my house that he'll be in the World Cup. He's good enough to get back. He will not sulk or put his head between his legs. He'll come out fighting.
- Former Australian batsman Dean Jones.
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It shows that the selectors have a very short memory. One bad series in 15 years and he is out of the squad. It is a wrong move and it may affect the performances of the other players. This is no time to experiment.
- Former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar.
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The selectors have one primary obligation to Australian cricket and that is to pick the team that in their judgement is the best side to represent our country. As difficult as it might be, they have taken this decision to fulfil this obligation.
- ACB Chief Executive, James Sutherland
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I don't think he was a weak link. He probably didn't perform as well as he would have wanted to in the one-day side but I didn't think he would be left out. He's probably going to be really motivated now to play well (in the Tests), so we're going to have to make sure that we get it right when he comes in to bat.
- South African captain Shaun Pollock
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We could all sense the pressure building from the public and the media. Everyone was on his case. What is amusing though is the thin line between success and failure. But for one bonus point he (Waugh) would be over here smelling of roses and everything would be fine.
- South African coach Graham Ford
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