Waugh hails Ganguly, says he brought toughness to the Indian team

Legendary Australian cricketer Steve Waugh hailed former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, saying he brought toughness to the team he led.

On a visit to Kolkata, to inaugurate a new building for Udayan, a rehabilitation home for children suffering from leprosy in colonies near Barrackpore, Waugh praised Ganguly, saying he was a brilliant cricketer.

Asked to compare former India captain Sourav Ganguly with captain 'cool' Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Waugh replied: "Both are very different captains. They both have been very good.

"I mean this is Kolkata and Sourav you know is a great captain. Sourav brought that toughness to the Indian side."

With Sachin Tendulkar on the brink of playing his 200th Test during the upcoming South Africa tour, Waugh said: "I think it would be a great achievement something that will be difficult to beat."

Waugh backed the struggling Australian team, which is trailing England 0-2 in the ongoing Ashes series after the rain-marred third Test ended in a draw.

"Well they did quite well in the last Test match. It's a young side that is capable of becoming a good side but it will take some time," he said.

However, he added it will be difficult for Michael Clarke's men to draw the series.

"If Australia can make it 2-2, it will be an amazing result. But it's going to be difficult," he said.

He went on to voice his support for the controversial Decision Review System.

"They haven't suffered because of the DRS. I have said it many times that the DRS is a very good system. The umpiring hasn't been probably as strong but at the end of the day you get more decisions right than wrong.

"Everyone needs to interpret the system better. Of course, India have their reservations. I think in the future there will be some technology that players as well as the media like," Waugh said.

Waugh insisted Test cricket is still the ultimate.

"I don't think T20s are dominating. Go to England to see the crowd there during the Ashes. India got some decent crowds as well.

"T20, of course, is a youthful game, people like to see it. There's good money in it for players. Test cricket is still the pinnacle of the game," he said.

Asked about the ball tampering controversy in the 2001 Chennai Test, Waugh said: "I always look at the front window. I don't look at the back. That was way in the back and I don't think about that."

Talking about his visit to Udayan, Waugh said:  "It's a great feeling to come here, to see the happy faces of the children. This is like a second home. Look forward to the time I can come back to Udayan."