s.waugh should he retire?, page-18

Debono.. You ask what he has to lose by not retiring?
The world is littered with the proverbial corpses of sports people who have refused to recognise their own ability's deterioration. So often those people want to continue that extra mile when time and again all it does is confirm what others can already see.

In the case of Steve Waugh, I do not believe anyone begrudges his career and so many people are so appreciative of his ability and efforts over so many years. But as we say in the stockmarket, buy low, sell high!! Get out when the going is good and especially when the signs are showing that the corner is coming.

1 Waugh has been fortunate enough (and good enough) to wear the baggy green cap for over fifteen years. He has had a great run at something so many aspire to yet so few achieve. There are many other cricketers who have not achieved the ultimate simply because there is not enough room in the team.

2 Waughs average over the last couple of years is more in the vicinity of mid twenties.

3 There are plenty of other batsmen who would readily step into Waughs position without detriment to the team eg Katich, Love

4 There are very satisfactory alternatives for the captaincy eg Ponting and Gilchrist, and probably an even better prospect than Waugh himself (if he could behave!!) Shane Warne.

5 His age suggests that his body must naturally have reached its peak.

It is my belief that this is an ideal time for Waugh to move aside. He has done so wonderfully well, he is highly thought of, the side will not be detrimentally affected and the country wants to farewell him ON HIS TERMS, not the selectors'