Steve Waugh predicts tough World Cup campaign

SYDNEY, Jan 31 AAP - Steve Waugh today predicted Australia faces a tough World Cup campaign as favourite for one-day cricket's biggest global prize.

While main host South Africa is considered to stand a strong chance, most betting institutions have Ricky Ponting's Australians as tournament favourites.

For the first time in five World Cups, Australia will attempt to win the quadrennial tournament without 37-year-old Waugh, a member of the victorious 1987 and 1999 teams.

"When you see the guys over there, you realise it's happening and you're not there, so it's disappointing," said Waugh, who captained Australia's 1999 team.

"But you've got to get on with things and I hope they do really well.

"It's going to be a tough World Cup as favourites, people expect them to win it.

"But it's much harder to win a World Cup than people expect, especially with a knockout stage.

"If you have one bad day, you are out so there's now quite a bit of pressure on the guys."

It is almost exactly a year since Waugh made the last of his 325 one-day appearances for Australia against South Africa in Perth.

With his services not required at the World Cup, Waugh has returned to interstate duty with New South Wales (NSW) until he makes a decision whether to continue his magnificent career beyond the season.

"I just wish I was over there (in South Africa) looking at the footage over there, I would love to be there," Waugh said.

"I'm not, so I've got to accept that.

"It's an exciting time, to be part of a World Cup squad, and those guys have got a great challenge ahead and into the unknown.

"Of course, they all want to do well, so it's a great time to be playing cricket but it hasn't affected the way I'm thinking.

"I'm going to continue playing for NSW till I feel as if I can make a decision."