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Waugh says South Africa could be fresh start to sport |
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July 15, 2000
MELBOURNE (AP) - Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh said Friday that next month's limited-overs series against South Africa could provide a fresh start to the troubled sport. Waugh said the game was losing its integrity because of the negative publicity generated by controversies such as the South African bribery case and the scandal that has placed Shane Warne's Australian vice-captaincy in jeopardy. It also was revealed this week that Australian paceman Brett Lee is the latest player to have his bowling action officially investigated. The three-match Super Challenge 2000 series from Aug. 16 at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne will be the first official international games to be played indoors and opens a hectic 18-month schedule for the Australian team. "I'd like to see this as almost a fresh start for cricket - over the last 12 months we've had so many bad things happen," Waugh said. "I think people want some positive stuff out of cricket - they're sick of reading the negative stuff. "It's changed a bit in recent times - even the conversations I have, people are always talking about bookmakers and bribery and have associated that with cricket." An English newspaper published details of lewd telephone conversations between Warne, who is playing county cricket for Hampshire, and a young English woman a few weeks ago. "It's tough for Warnie, because he's bigger than the game - anything he does is going to be huge news and it's going to be 10 times than if someone else does it," Waugh said. "He's too valuable to Australian cricket to lose, he could be the first man to take 500 test wickets, I want to see him keep playing." |