Steve Waugh revitalised by extended break

Australian Test captain Steve Waugh says he is feeling revitalised by his enforced break from the game and is "really keen" to resume playing.

Waugh has not played since the final Test against South Africa in March after being unceremoniously dropped from the Australian one-day team.

The cancellation of Australia's tour to Zimbabwe, scheduled for April, and doubts over the upcoming tour of Pakistan have given Waugh his longest break from the game in years and the 37-year-old says he has enjoyed the rest.

"I've had a good break - I feel nice and refreshed," Waugh told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"It's been a few years since we've had a long break and I'm really appreciating it."

Waugh said he had spent his spare time catching up with family and friends and completing some unfinished chores around the house but was not yet finished with cricket, especially with the Ashes series against England later this year.

"Time away from cricket has been good. I've been doing some so-called normal things and being an average person," he said.

"But it's made me feel really keen for this season - it's been a long time since I've had an extended break."

Mail Cricket Editor