Why be negative, asks Steve Waugh

Sydney, January 1: Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has attacked the way other international teams play, saying they regularly employ “negative†tactics that prevent them from winning more often.

Waugh cited the recent drawn matches between South Africa and Sri Lanka and New Zealand against Zimbabwe as cases where teams played to avoid defeat rather than pursuing victory. “I think a lot of sides don’t play to their ability because they’re not really letting themselves go,†Waugh said. “Every time we go to play a Test match we try and encourage the other side to play positively and play for the win and get a result. That’s the idea of the game. Besides us, I don’t know any other side that looks like they’re going to win…or prepares to win from ball one.†West Indian captain Jimmy Adams, whose team is facing a 0-5 series defeat heading into Tuesday’s final Test, said he agreed with part of Waugh’s comments but that it was largely dependant on the type of players.
— Reuters