Smaller nations need help on Waugh footing

England were recovering from the wounds of a war which wiped out as many as one generation. India’s problem was a lack of exposure and Don Bradman on another mission which in general displayed just how easy it was taking runs off bowling which was little better than county level.

Days after Matthew Hayden had rattled off his record 380 against Zimbabwe, and as criticism of the victims grew, Waugh came up with what he felt was, in part, a solution to Zimbabwe’s problem: give Zimbabwe Graeme Hick and let Henry Olonga play games for the besieged side outside the landlocked African state.

Amid the Hayden record innings, an ancient raft full of memories of Australia’s 721 runs against Essex at Southend on Sea on a mid-May Saturday in 1948 floated by. The most runs scored in a first-class match on a single day. It was total carnage. But that was Bradman for you.

The difference between Bradman and Waugh, however, is that the current Australian captain sees the benefit of playing such sides as Zimbabwe. His plea to the International Cricket Council of ‘‘Let Hick play for the country of his birth’’ suggests that others, such as Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower, should be drafted in.

Whether Hick would help Zimbabwe out their plight is another matter. What might help here is the question of exposure and finding bowlers to win Tests. Bangladesh are starting to show the benefits of Dav Whatmore’s coaching techniques and, not too long ago, almost beat Pakistan. They might have recorded their first win had their nerve held.

Whatmore’s expertise —learnt from his Sri Lanka sojourn — has valuable lessons for the ICC.

It would, of course, defeat the object of Test status should India ‘loan’ Test players such as Javagal Srinath to Bangladesh. It is as much as an insult, perhaps as saying Hick should be ‘loaned’ to Zimbabwe.

The Waugh sentiment does, however, have some merit. The ICC need to rethink the long-term strategies of future Test nations and to ensure parity in standards at least. Where they can help is broaden the scope of Bob Woolmer’s role as coach of the Associate Member countries to set up a team of coaching and technical expertise and help develop not only players but also conditions and facilities.

After all, there is far more to the game than playing Tests and ODIs. It needs to grow and politics kept out of this growth process. Not easy in today’s climate, but Waugh doesn’t see it as a problem; more as a help. Whether the ICC take up the challenge is another matter.