Was Steve Waugh a selfish cricketer? - yes according to Chappelli

[Red]

How the **** Terry Alderman doesn’t get a gig is beyond me. Two 40+ wicket away series is he stuff of legend.

Hadn't noticed that. Was unreal in in England

 

[fredfertang]

That's "ruthless" rather than "selfish".

I was thinking in terms of selfish towards those of us who were watching - the great WIndies side were never less than ruthless, but almost always exciting to watch

 

[stephen]

I wish we had more selfish cricketers if they all play like Tugga.

 

[harsh.ag]

Worst part about the list is that he clearly doesn't give much of a flying **** about actual Ashes output.

 

[S.Kennedy]

He is a Man who holds a grievance for a very long. Chappell and Botham nearly had a punch-up, 2010-11 Ashes, two old farts having a go. Have you seen him slag off Bradman?

 

[Burgey]

TBF Bradman wasn't averse at keeping a grudge either

 

[Second Spitter]

"As they say in Seth Efrica, a grudge is a place where you pohrk your cor"

 

[S.Kennedy]

I wonder how much it has to do about the row about player remuneration which led to World Series Cricket, or how much it was part of this big family feud because Bradman shafted Victor Richardson and nabbed the South Australian captaincy? Perhaps both.

 

[jcas0167]

Some of the reasons for Chappell's stance seem to be Waugh putting away the hookshot, beating Warne to the captaincy, announcing his retirement at the start of the 03/04 season so he'd get a 'farewell tour', Damien Martyn sacrificing his wicket cos it was Waugh's final season. There was also this analysis on PakPassion:

In fact, the reason in my opinion why he never liked Steve Waugh is because he had all the worst personality features of his brother Greg.

Steve Waugh was a self-centred cricketer who was intense and brooding and would win at all costs, and learned from Allan Border in 1989 in England that you didn't have to enjoy the game or socialise with opposition, just grind them into the dirt. He did not care about bringing through the next generation of players, which is why Darren Lehmann, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn who were all 5-6 years younger saw their international careers put on hold while a fading pair of Waughs played on and on.

Even Mark Waugh doesn't particularly like Steve Waugh. And he's his twin. He hated the way Steve Waugh turned an enjoyable game into a war.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah the term mental disintegration is pretty horrible with what we now know about bullying and mental health in males

Steve scored us aussies a legacy of being cold ruthless bastards and made us the most hated test side going. I still hate the way most 40 year olds carry on in club cricket, no doubt influenced by the 90s generation of test cricketers


Still an awesome cricketer but he definitely took it all too seriously did Steve

 

[Red]

Bull****. Playing the game at the top level IS serious.

Let's not pretend anyone gets to test level without ruthlessness and a desire to be the best.

Still an awesome cricketer but he definitely took it all too seriously did Steve

Which test captains thru history do you think have not taken it seriously?

 

[Burgey]

Flintoff. That tour was a joke

 

[mr_mister]

None took it quite as seriously as Waugh. 'mental disintegration' is pretty extreme even if its meant to be a little tongue in cheek

I've read like 4 of his books. No female friends til he was 20 due to his obsession with sport and competition, plus just a general gist of having no down time at all from cricket. It's a job but it's not an important job, it's sport

 

[Red]

It doesn't matter if you or I think it's important, but he obviously did. That's why he played 168 tests.


I'll tell you plenty of others who took it as seriously as Waugh: Border, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Ray Illingworth, Don Bradman, Bill Woodfull.

You know, guys who captained some of the most successful teams ever...

 

[mr_mister]

None necessarily good humans though

 

[the big bambino]

That's all fine really and actually admirable. Nothing here I've read that makes me think poorly of Waugh. In fact he has the sort of traits I'd like in a cricketer and captain. Much worse is someone who takes it less seriously and lets himself, his side, his country and the paying spectators down. I think such a bloke would be the selfish one. Sacrifice all the aforementioned for your reputation for being a good bloke.

 

[Red]

None necessarily good humans though

Seriously? What's your basis for being a "good human"?

 

[mr_mister]

A sense of humor, a recognition you're lucky as **** to play cricket for your country, humility and kindness. I like most of the current crop of cricketers going. They are my generation though, my peers so I'm a little bias

Steve Waugh's charity work is admirable

 

[Red]

Steve Waugh to me seems the epitome of a decent vanilla human. Never been involved in any scandals etc, honours his elders, treats people with respect and dignity.

 

[mr_mister]

Don't you see how mental disintegration is direct evidence against some of your points


Anyway, I like Steve, I just take issue with that one tactic that was a theme of his captaincy

Let's agree to disagree