Australian legend Steve Waugh has hit back at his former team mate for calling him a ‘selfish cricketer’ recently.
Earlier, one of the video compilers had made a video based on statistics published by ESPN of Waugh being involved in 104 run-out dismissals. Out of which, his partner at the other end had to pay the price on 73 occasions. It led to Warne tweeting, “Wow! So S Waugh was involved in the most ever run-outs in test cricket (104) & ran his partner out 73 times – is that correct? For the record AGAIN & I’ve said this 1000 times – I do not hate S Waugh at all. FYI – I picked him in my all-time best Australian team recently. Steve was easily the most selfish cricketer that I ever played with and this stat.” While this has led to reigniting a 21 year old feud between the two when Waugh had dropped Warne during a series against the West Indies.
Now, he responded to Warne’s ‘out of the blue’ jibe by saying that it takes people to be involved in a feud. And, Warne’s comments are his own reflection. “People keep saying it’s a feud. But to me, a feud between two people. I’ve never brought into it, so it’s just one person. His comments are a reflection of himself, nothing to do with me. That’s all I’d say,” concluded Waugh.
Tensions between Warne and Waugh first began two decades ago when the former skipper dropped the leg-spinner from the Test side during the 1999 tour of the West Indies. “Disappointed is not a strong enough word,” Warne wrote in his autobiography. “I lost a bit of respect for him after that. I believe he should have backed me – as I always believe the art of captaincy is to support your players and back them every time. “This gains the respect from the players and makes them play for you. He didn’t, it’s history, but I never found it easy with him after that.” Warne has confirmed he is planning a tell-all documentary about his life. Wonder if we’ll hear this story again? Whose side are you on? Tell us in the comments section.
