Waugh eyes W'Cup spot and average over 50

Australia's World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh says he is battling hard to regain his place for next year's Cup defence in South Africa.

Waugh, who turns 37 next month, is also motivated to keep his test average above 50.

"I've thought about it (the World Cup) quite a bit and I want to make sure I give it my best shot at trying to get back in there," Waugh told reporters at a book launch on Tuesday.

"I don't want to sit back in a few years' time and say I wish I would've tried harder to get back into that one-day side.

Waugh remains captain of the number one-ranked team in Test cricket after leading Australia to series victories at home and away against nearest rivals South Africa.

However, the man who played such a dominant role in Australia's successful 1999 World Cup campaign was dropped for the seven-match limited overs series in South Africa in March and April when Australia won 5-1 under Ricky Ponting.

Waugh, who made only 95 runs at an average of 19.00 in the three-Test series in South Africa, averages exactly 50.00 from 148 Tests, including 27 centuries.

He said: "Probably in some ways, it's a bit of an incentive to keep playing well."

Australia tour Pakistan in September-October before hosting England for a five-Test Ashes series in 2002-03.

Only former Australia captain Allan Border has played more tests (156) than Waugh, and only ex-India captain Mohammad Azharuddin (334) and Pakistan's Wasim Akram (331) have featured in more one-day internationals than Waugh's 325.

Waugh also played in Australia's 1987 World Cup-winning side under Border.

Mail Cricket Editor