Waugh learns to trust himself

SYDNEY - For years, Australian cricket lived by the adage that if all help seemed lost, there was always Steve Waugh.

His self belief had not only rescued Australia countless times but also typified why his team held a vice-like grip on the world No.1 tag.

But Waugh admits his recent form slump which threatened an unceremonious dumping had come down to losing faith in the one who counted - himself.

"I was putting pressure on myself because I wanted to score runs and sometimes you forget to trust yourself in certain situations," Waugh said upon arrival in Sydney last night from Australia's 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan.

"I went back to doing the same things I've always done and trusted myself to know I would come good.

"But sometimes you lose a bit of patience with that and it had been a long time since I had failed so in some ways I had to re-learn the process of trusting yourself and knowing it will come good."

The back to basics approach worked - eventually.

Waugh left it until the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah this week to throw off the shackles with an unbeaten 103 to cap off Australia's series whitewash.

He ended his worst batting drought in 10 years in style, belting 20 runs off one over to reach his 28th Test ton before the inevitable dismissal of tailender Glenn McGrath ended the innings.

While he may have revived his career with the inspirational ton, Waugh admitted he would have to hang up his beloved, tattered baggy green "sooner rather than later".

"I am not looking too forward. I'm not going to put a deadline on when I am going to stop, I'm just going to wait and see what happens," he said.

"It's going to be sooner rather than later, that's pretty obvious but I haven't sat down with anyone and said 'this is when I am going to finish'."

Waugh - who averages around 60 against England - said he would speak with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns this weekend about the first Ashes Test team to be named on Monday and hoped he and his out of form brother Mark would be in it.

While hopeful that his brother would be retained, Waugh said he felt sorry for the unlucky paceman who would miss out at the first Test against England starting at Brisbane on November 7.

"All our bowlers were outstanding. Andy Bichel was inspirational for us. He told me he has been on 13 tours and that was his first overseas Test (the third Test at Sharjah) so it's great to see him do well and it appears he has found an extra yard of pace," Waugh said.

"And Brett Lee, I think he was excellent in the last innings, he really got it together and bowled quick with a good line."

While there may be changes to the Test line-up, don't expect Waugh to alter his decaying yet loved baggy green hat - frayed brim and all.

"That's the way I love it. It's got memories for me and means a lot to me that way," he said.

"It's probably going to get worse but I love it that way, it's got character and memories and it's mine."