Miscellaneous

What the captains said...

Australian skipper Stephen Waugh undoubtedly disappointed his side couldn't wrap up the series

Lawrie Colliver
18-Aug-2000
Australian skipper Stephen Waugh undoubtedly disappointed his side couldn't wrap up the series.
"We should have won, our batting was a bit poor at the finish really and in the end we were lucky to tie it"
Waugh praised the bowling of Jason Gillespie in his first game back and suggested there is definitely a spot for both he and Brett Lee during the coming summer, but not necessarily for Sunday's game, "It was hard enough picking the team for Wednesday and picking Sunday's team will be hard. During the season it will depend on the wickets and who is fit at the time"
As far as the playing surface was concerned, Waugh said that it had improved from Wednesday and that "it was a bit drier today", but said it was "still a little awkward underfoot".
Judging by the way Waugh walked out of press room, the outfield and Wednesday innings hard given the Aussie skipper more than his fair share of sort spots.
South African skipper Shaun Pollock was pleased that Sunday's game will have some sort of importance and that "tieing the game was better than a loss". Pollock felt his team did very well to fightback and said that "226 was not enough when they were 5/180-odd after forty overs."
Pollock also praised the efforts of Nicky Boje and eventual Man of the Match Andrew Hall "both Nicky and Andrew were superb".
The Protea's skipper also said Jonty Rhodes injured groin was not going to play on Sunday and would probably be out for "a few weeks"
Man of the Match Andrew Hall said he was excited at the chance to bowl at the death at he had done it on a number of occasions for his provincial side, Gauteng.
"After the first couple of balls came out nice, I felt I was on a roll and I just wanted to get the ball and run in and bowl"
"I've never minded the pressure as it seems to help raise my game to a higher level"
South African only have to win on Sunday to tie the series, run rates will no part, which means either Australia will win the series two-nil or the trophy will be shared.