E-Paper
Aus seek to deprive Waugh of 'what if?'
When Steve Waugh retired, he did so with a fraying kitbag stuffed full with honours, accolades. If there was one "what if", then it was India.
Even men of the stature of Steve Waugh should be permitted regrets, just small ones, minor "what ifs?" to chew over during those quieter moments.
Even men like Waugh surely need some counterweight to the boredom that accompanies unmitigated success.
When the former Australia captain retired at the start of the year, he did so with a fraying kitbag stuffed full with honours and accolades.
No man had ever played more Tests. No man had ever led a side to more consecutive victories. Only one man had scored more Test runs and two had made more centuries.
If there was one "what if", then it was India.
Victory in India.
"The ultimate goal", he had called it a couple of years before, after a routine eighth successive Ashes win. But his legs gave out 10 months too soon and he hobbled away from the game with the score unsettled.
