Steve Waugh 50-50 to play tour finale

LEEDS, England - Australian captain Steve Waugh has rated himself a 50-50 chance of playing the fifth and final Ashes Test against England at The Oval, starting Thursday.

Waugh suffered two tears to his left calf muscle at Trent Bridge on August 4 but 12 hours a day of treatment since has him on the verge of being available for the series finale.

It would be a remarkable recovery given that torn calves usually take between four and six weeks to heal.

"I haven't made a decision, I'm going to make that tomorrow," Waugh said after the Australians trained at The Oval today.

"I'm batting no problem in the nets, it's whether I can run fully between the wickets and field okay.

"I guess I'm somewhere around a 50-50 chance.

Waugh, 36, is desperate to make a final appearance in England and accept the Waterford crystal trophy at the end of a series Australia has already won.

"I did some running today, something like 70 per cent, so well look at it tomorrow - turning and all those things that are going to happen in a game," he said.

"But it's getting better every day.

"A few more days would have been nice, but I'm getting up there so I'm a good chance."

Waugh, a tour selector with Adam Gilchrist and Trevor Hohns, said versatile Colin Miller or medium pacer Damien Fleming might also force his way into the XI.

"All the bowlers are in contention," said Waugh.

"Miller at The Oval is a possibility we've got to discuss - it turns and bounces here.

"That's why England has brought Tufnell in.

"There will be some issues discussed."

If Miller or Fleming play, speedster Brett Lee will be sacked. Lee's match figures of 2-168 from 38 overs at Headingley gave him eight wickets for the series at 52.87, the worst of any bowler from either side.

By comparison, Glenn McGrath has taken 25 wickets at 17.28, Shane Warne 20 at 17.55 and Jason Gillespie 19 at 27.26.

Even England bowlers Alex Tudor (seven at 27.85), Darren Gough (16 at 34), Andy Caddick (15 at 40.13) and Alan Mullally (two at 49.50) have fared better.

McGrath and England hero Mark Butcher seem certain to finish as the leading wicket-taker and run-scorer, respectively.

Butcher has 417 runs following his unbeaten 173no at Headingley to lead Australian trio Damien Martyn (318), Adam Gilchrist (315) and Mark Waugh (310).