Waugh determined to prove critics wrong

SYDNEY - Mark Waugh today declared his determination to defend his Australian cricket team berth by scoring runs for New South Wales.

The 35-year-old batsman arrived home from the ICC Cup tournament in Kenya amid media calls for selectors to end his international career because of a recent poor form.

Waugh said his critics weren't looking at the big picture but he would seek to prove them wrong by scoring runs for New South Wales ahead of the home Test series against the West Indies starting late next month.

"You are only talking about one game in Kenya. Obviously I would have liked to have got runs but it is only the one day," said Waugh.

It has been pointed out that the stylish right hander's past nine one-day international innings have yielded just 98 runs, including the seven he made in Australia's quarter-final defeat by India in Kenya.

"I would like to have made more runs in the last nine innings but I didn't know that statistic," said Waugh.

"I guess I will just have to go out there and make some runs for New South Wales.

"There are a lot of good players around. It's no different to any other season. I will just have to get some runs."

Waugh has been troubled by a back injury which had put him in doubt for the match against India last weekend and will keep him out of this Sunday's domestic one-day match against Victoria.

However he said it was not serious and just required a few days rest. Australian captain Steve Waugh backed his brother's stance.

Australian team coach John Buchanan believed the batting problem was wider than just Waugh's form.

"In a sense if we look at the whole top order, it's been a bit of a concern in the one-dayers so we need to get that right," said Buchanan. Captain Steve Waugh agreed.

"He (Mark Waugh) would like to get some runs but so would some of the other guys," said the skipper.

He said the first match exit from the ICC Cup was disappointing but people should not read too much into it.

"I was disappointed at the time but life goes on. We've got a whole season to look forward to," said Waugh.

"It seems like it's been blown out of proportion a little bit.

"We played poorly over there and will try to rectify it the next time we go around."

The captain was glad his team would have the opportunity to play for their states several times before international duty resumed. He starts for NSW in the one-dayer against Victoria on Sunday.

"I'm looking forward to that. It's been a while since I've played one-day cricket for NSW.

"It will be a good opporunuty for all the guys before the first Test match."