Born: 2/6/65 Team: New South Wales Test debut: v India at Melbourne, 1985/86 Captain Right-handed batsman Right-arm medium bowler

Just when it seemed that Waugh would pass on the captain's mantle to a younger model, the 37-year-old was asked once more to lead his side.

It was Waugh's form with the bat rather than skills as captain which led to questions being asked of whether he would take part in the tour to the West Indies.

But his hundred against England in Sydney and three centuries for New South Wales on the way to a domestic title swayed selectors into sticking with their prolific captain.

The gritty veteran has an outstanding Test record.

He has scored 10,039 runs at an average of 49.45 and is the third-highest run scorer behind India's Sunil Gavaskar and fellow Australian Allan Border.

He also has a superb record as captain since taking over in 1999, winning 33 from the 45 matches and losing just seven.