CRICKETER REMAINED IN SHADOW

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

Dravid was in the fight with Sachin for popularity.

Chander Paul was in the fight with Lara for popularity.

Smith was in the fight with Kallis for popularity.

Jack Kalis remained in the Background of  Sachin, and LARA.

But Mark Waugh was lost in the shadows of Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, and Michael Bevan’s popularity, in spite of LEGENDERY PERFORMANCE.

Steve Waugh was Australian cricket’s poster-boy back then. The media loved him, and he too had a unique charm attached to him. He was a fan favourite too. He was just five years into his international cricket and the craze he had among the Aussies was admirable.

In 1990, he was hit by bad form and was dropped. The nation was surprised, their favourite, ‘Tugga’ was dropped. And who would replace him?

Mark Waugh, his twin brother.

The media called him ‘Junior’ and the ‘other Waugh’

Mark had a lot to prove, he had big boots to fill. Playing under the legendary Allan Border, he scored a century in his debut match. But unfortunately, Australia lost that match and he didn’t win the ‘Man of the Match’ award. He was already overshadowed.

It was difficult being Mark Waugh. He was a good leader, but the Australian board couldn’t keep brothers as captain and vice-captain, so Ponting was made the vice-captain. He was a great opener too, but Gilchrist always stole the show. He could give great finishes too, but Bevan’s finishes were always remembered. He could walk into any world-class team because of his skills, but he wasn’t the best player in his own backyard.

His elegant shots could make any bowler look like a rookie. He was named, ‘Sheffield Shield Cricketer of the Year’ twice. He is one of the few players who can boast of having a first-class average of 50+. Test or ODIs, it never mattered, he was equally good. He also held the record for ‘most centuries by an Australian in ODIs’ before Ponting bettered it.

He was a brilliant fielder too, his record of ‘most number of catches by a non-wicket-keeper’ was broken by Dravid only. He was an excellent part-time bowler. In fact, he is one of the few bowlers to have bowled both, good medium pace and off-spin at an international level. He became an off-spin bowler after back injury.

These records and achievements can make any player envious, but to the world, he was still remembered as ‘the other Waugh’.

SOURCE:-- Sports Magazines