Mark Waugh wants his bat to do the talking

Sydney, October 11: Mark Waugh vowed on Wednesday to defend his place in the Australian cricket team for the Test series against the West ...

Sydney, October 11: Mark Waugh vowed on Wednesday to defend his place in the Australian cricket team for the Test series against the West Indies starting next month by scoring runs for New South Wales.

The 35-year-old batsman arrived home from the ICC Cup tournament in Kenya amid calls for selectors to end his international career.

The stylish right hander8217;s past nine One-Day International innings have yielded just 98 runs, including the seven he made in Australia8217;s quarter-final defeat by India in Kenya.

8220;I would like to have made more runs in the last nine innings but I didn8217;t know that statistic,8221; said Waugh. 8220;I guess I will just have to go out there and make some runs for New South Wales. There are a lot of players around. It8217;s no different to any other season. I will just have to get some runs,8221; he said.

Australian team coach John Buchanan believed the batting problem was not confined to Waugh.

8220;In a sense if we look at the whole top order, it8217;s been a bit of a concern in the one-dayers, so we need to get that right,8221; said Buchanan.Captain Steve Waugh agreed.

8220;He would like to get some runs but so would some other guys,8221; said the skipper of his brother.

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Atherton8217;s says no
LONDON: Former England skipper Michael Atherton has rejected a new contract at English county Lancashire to throw up speculation on his retirement, the Press Association reported.

The 32-year-old Atherton is expected to discuss a new deal after the series against Australia next year. Atherton, who made his debut at Lancashire in 1987, recently hinted that he may make next season his last.

Old Trafford chairman Jack Simmons said: 8220;He has put matters on hold. There is talk of retiring, but I can8217;t see him packing up.8221;