Waugh brothers W'Cup hopes take big blow

The chances of Steve Waugh and twin brother Mark making Australia's one-day team for next year's World Cup were dealt a big blow on Friday when they were left out of two squads.

They were omitted from the 14-man squad to play a triangular limited-overs series against Pakistan in Kenya next month followed by the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka from September 12-29.

They also failed to be selected for an 'A' tour of South Africa for seven one-dayers against South Africa 'A' from September 4.

Friday's squad announcements suggested that neither of the Waughs is now regarded as being among the top 28 one-day players in the country and some observers felt the end of the road at one-day level could well be in sight.

Test captain Steve and elegant batsman Mark were dropped from the limited-overs team at the end of last season but both vowed to fight their way back before the World Cup in South Africa, starting in February.

Ricky Ponting will captain the Australian side in Kenya and Sri Lanka while Justin Langer will be in charge in South Africa.

Steve Waugh said in a statement issued through his manager Robert Joske: "I was more than willing to go on the tour if selected, but that is not the case."

Joske described Waugh as "stoic and strong".

Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh's vice-captain in Australia's test side, said he was surprised the Waughs were not included.

"It is a bit odd," Gilchrist was quoted as saying by the AAP news wire.

"Obviously...the Waughs could easily slot into any team and still do well," he said.

TOO EARLY

Langer felt it was too early to write off Steve Waugh's chances of making the World Cup squad.

"There is no doubt he has got the ability to, (it is) whether the opportunity comes up for him," Langer said.

"Having spoken to him recently, he still has the desire to do it and, if any person could do it against all the odds that are probably stacked against him to do it and make a return, he could do it."

Mark Waugh's manager Leo Karis, said he was "not overly surprised" the batsman had been left out of the squad, adding, however, that he had not given up on forcing his way back into World Cup contention.

ACB selection chairman Trevor Hohns said he was "very, very comfortable" with both squads.

"There's a couple of guys there I suppose who are a bit of a look-and-see proposition -- we are experimenting a little bit," Hohns said.

The two Waughs, now 37, have not played one-day cricket for Australia since February, although Steve Waugh remains captain of the test side.

Steve Waugh has made 325 one-day appearances, 106 of them as captain, while Mark Waugh is Australia's leading run scorer in limited overs internationals with 8,500 in 244 matches.

Steve Waugh played a dominant role in Australia's successful 1999 World Cup campaign but was dropped for the seven-match limited overs series in South Africa in March and April when Australia won 5-1 under Ponting.

Only ex-India captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Pakistan's Wasim Akram have featured in more one-day internationals than Steve Waugh, who also played in Australia's 1987 World Cup-winning side under Allan Border.

SQUADS

Australia in Kenya: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Shane Watson.

Australia 'A' in South Africa: Justin Langer (captain), Simon Katich, Greg Blewett, Nathan Bracken, Ryan Campbell, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Ian Harvey, Mark Higgs, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Williams, Damien Wright.

Mail Cricket Editor