Zimbabwe tour could be a 'waste of time' - Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh: not mincing his words © Cricinfo

Steve Waugh has said that Australia's tour of Zimbabwe could turn out to be an exercise in futility if the impasse in Zimbabwe cricket, which has led to their fielding a second-string side, is not resolved.

Speaking in a television interview, Waugh said: "If they [Zimbabwe] turn up with the present side they've got now, it will be pretty close to a waste of time. There's no doubt Australia will win the series easily if they [Zimbabwe] don't change their current line-up.

"But I think Australian teams have always been motivated by a challenge," he continued. "I don't think they would play as well as they normally play, against a side like that. They would much rather play against a full-strength side, and that would get the best out of their skills."

Zimbabwe's current side is filled with players who are lucky to be playing cricket at this level, and have got their chance only because Heath Streak, Zimbabwe's captain until recently, and 14 other players were sacked from the team after a dispute with the board. The 20-year-old Tatenda Taibu took over as captain from Streak, thus becoming the youngest man ever to captain an international side. But despite trying gamely, Zimbabwe have been outclassed by Sri Lanka, and a further thrashing from Australia is all but certain.