No excuses for no Australian World Cup motto

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 3 AAP - Steve Waugh's absence is regrettable.

He's left the team without a motto.

What is Ricky Ponting doing?

Australia always had a motto when Waugh was captain.

Most times, anyway. They were great.

He came up with 'No Regrets' for the 1999 World Cup.

Other expeditions were filed under catchy little phrases like 'Never Satisfied'.

Waugh spent an entire Ashes series mumbling "never satisfied, lads" from gully.

And now?

Nothing.

A rumour spread this morning about the use of 'No Excuses'.

Perfect, perfect. Nods of approval everywhere.

But then it was revealed 'No Excuses' was not the motto for this tour and even more alarmingly, there was to be no motto at all.

Tragic.

Australia needs a motto and it's not too late to get one.

The first game is still a week away.

'No Excuses' really would be would be perfect, reflecting the players' belief that all things being equal, they should win this tournament.

If they lose, they will have no-one to blame but themselves.

No excuses.

Going through unbeaten is not beyond the realms of possibility.

They have wicket-taking and economical bowlers, run-hungry batsmen capable of dominating or dabbing, fieldsmen happy to throw themselves all over the place, a spinner who is out of this world, an aura of invincibility and an aggressive, progressive leader.

Even if he can't find a motto.

South Africa has jumped on the motto bandwagon, adopting one that sounds vaguely familiar: `No Regrets'.

Waugh should have put it under copyright.

Surely the hosts could have been more imaginative.

"Don't Choke' would have been good.

Other nations are believed to be considering the following:

India - No Quicks.

Zimbabwe - No Matches.

England - No Hope.

New Zealand - Please, No.

Sri Lanka - No Ball.