Were the Aussies too hasty in binning the Waugh twins?

Australia dropped skipper Steve Waugh and brother Mark after the world champions failed to reach the final of the triangular series with South Africa and New Zealand at the start of the year.

Ricky Ponting stepped into the breach as captain, young all-rounder Shane Watson was drafted and Darren Lehmann and Jimmy Maher were recalled to a new-look squad.

Have the changes damaged Australia's World Cup chances? And should Steve and Mark be recalled?

This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.

Good to see the Aussies squirm with self-doubt (as England so often do). The Waugh twins played a major part in possibly the most dominant team in test history. They deserve to walk away with their reputations intact.

Let's see how the arrogant pups survive without such true talent to focus on. Pakistan outplayed them and taught them a lesson.
Matt Martin, Saudi Arabia

You need wickets to contain the batsman. Rickey Ponting is too negative in his approach by asking Lee to improve his economy rate. That certainly was not the case with Steve, a man who was not afraid of deploying four slips in one day cricket. Steve should be the captain, any runs that he makes should be treated as a bonus.
Mushtaq Sohani, Canada

How much should one read into the mid-season games against Pakistan? Not much. Australia, when it needs to be, is still by far the best side in both forms of cricket. Pakistan,, as a team, could only dream of being as talented, ruthless and as consistent as the Australians are.

The ACB have done the right thing. Australia smashed South Africa, the second ranked side in the world, without the Waugh's but with an extremely talented team who play good cricket. On their day not even a Pakistan team brimming with rare confidence and cohesion could outplay the Australians.
Paul, Australia

Steve was the best Australian captain after Alan Border and Mark but that doesn't mean that one should overlook the great performance of the Pakistani team. Even if Steve and Mark were there it would have made no difference.
Vikas Manjrekar, India

The Australian selectors should panic beacuse of the defeat. ODI matches are for young people. Today ODI matches have changed so much it is more of fitness game rather than good technique or natural talent. For the future, the Australians should stick to a younger bunch of players. Recalling the Waugh brothers will not bring any benefits.
Shielesh Daamle, India

The fact is that Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib would prefer to bowl at Darren Lehmann instead of Steve Waugh any day of the week. Come on Aussie selectors; get yourself in order, NOW!
Omar Mirza, UK

As a Pakistani I am delighted that Pakistan have defeated the mighty Aussies on their home turf. But comments from some of my country-fellows to the effect that we are a better team than the Australians annoy me no end.

Losing a couple of one-day matches does not mean that the Australians are no longer the best in the world. Yes, Pakistan are perhaps the most talented side in world cricket today, but that does not mean that they are better than the Aussies.

Had the Waugh brothers been playing in the decider, the result may not have been different, but Pakistan would have had to work a lot harder for victory. The Waugh twins should be immediately recalled.
Nausherwan Lahori, Lahore, Pakistan

Cricket, besides technique is also a game of nerves. Just like in the game of snooker, a lot of self-belief is needed to succeed in cricket. Similarly, a successful cricketing leader must have an invincible looking body language. Steve Waugh had all these qualities.

If not Mark, at least Steve Waugh should be recalled immediately and reinstated as the captain of both one-day as well as Test match team. With all due respect to Ricky Ponting, he rather looks like a spoilt brat on the street.

It's strange that nobody such as the vocal Ian Chappel, Bill Lawry and Tony Greig are raising their voices in favour of the 'Ice Man'.
Arshad Khan, Pakistan

The Waugh twins are history. For the last year they were playing on their past record. If Australia considers bringing them back perhaps they will do well to ask Allan Border out of retirement too!
Hassan Haroon, Canada

Steve was the best captain of the world and the decision of ACB to drop him for the one day matches was ridiculous. He is a guy who can really play under pressure and his experience should have given Australia a better chance to retain the World Cup. Now I feel the back bone of Aussies team is not there and they are like the Indian team with out Sachin Tendulkar. Now nobody really thinks they are unbeatable.
Preejith Pachat, United Arab Emirates

It is premature to say that the Aussies haven't been performing well without the Waugh brothers. The Aussies beat S. Africa 6-1 in a recent one-day series in S. Africa, and seemed to be doing great without the Waugh twins.

Against Pakistan, I think it was more due to Shoaib Akhtar and the great Pakistani bowling attack than due to an Aussie batting problem. I think we should give credit to the Pakistani bowlers who bowled superbly, Shoaib Akhtar was awesome. The Aussies will shine again against other teams even without the Waughs.
Taha, India

The two Waughs are feared by other teams around the world when they occupy the crease. Steve is the best captain in the world in both categories of the game. He is the most brilliant cricketer and motivator in the game today. Without him the Aussies have no chance in the World Cup.
Sam D, USA

Australia is in a period of experimentation and recreation and the games it plays over the next six months should not be studied too closely as an indication of the nation's cricket future (near or distant).

The ACB is trying to avoid the disastrous run of the early '80s following the mass retirement of greats such as Dennis Lillee, Geoff Marsh, the Chappell brothers, Jeff Thompson and others. It took almost 10 years to rebuild from that and I shudder to think what would have happened without Alan Border.

The only way to avoid the same thing happening with players of the 2001 team was to replace key members before their time was due. While Steve is still a brilliant captain and he and his brother are still reasonable batsmen (sorry Steve, you're still my idol), it was either them or Glen McGrath and Shane Warne. I think Shane felt the noose tighten for a while there too (hence the weight loss and new attitude).

It's probably not fair on the Waughs, the team will lose for a while and the selectors will be scrutinised and villianised after each loss but let's revisit the topic in 12 months time. I hope the rookies (whoever they'll be) will have justified the selectors' faith in them by then.

I'd also just like to congratulate the Pakistani team on the way they handle themselves on and off the field. They appear to be a team of nice, friendly guys who play fair and do their country great service. All success to them!
Gordo, Australia

Dropping the Waughs is a bold gamble by the Australian selectors and the teams' loss to Pakistan when it mattered most needs a rethink. The Waughs would be definitely be all fired up if given another chance. Experience sometimes cannot have a substitute.
Tej Patri, USA

Ponting and his young team should be given a fair run, They should be given more time to settle down.
Karthik Natarajan, USA

Sacking Steve at the twilight of his career was a big mistake by the ACB. They should have let him lead the Aussies to the World Cup in South Africa as he can certainly outsmart Ricky Ponting on the cricket field anytime. Just advocating Steve's cause further, he would have retired after the World Cup anyway. After all, it's every professional's dream to retire with a BANG!!!
Ali Ahmed, Pakistan

The best person to say whether or not the Waugh brothers were finished is the Waugh brothers themselves.
F Waliullah, Anon

Australia should exploit the experience that the Waugh brothers have gathered in the past years. Just because Australia failed to qualify for the finals in the tri nation series should not have led to their expulsion. They should remember those times when Steve Waugh helped Australia to win.
Prateek Kothari, USA

Pakistan are so often their own worst enemies on the field that one can see them beat, Australia one day and lose to Zimbabwe the next, through petulance or rank stupidity.
Roche John, Belgium

I was at Headingley in 1999 when Steve Waugh scored the best one day International century ever, against South Africa to keep the Aussies in the World Cup.

The man is a rock in the Aussie batting line up, and should be recalled.

When the chips are down, and you need someone to bat for your life, chose Steve Waugh. He's better than Tendulkar and Lara.
Anjam Hussain, England

Australia was beaten by a better team on the day. Steve Waugh may be out of form as a batsmen but he is without doubt the most informed captain of recent times. If I had my way, Steve Waugh would be in the team for captaincy.
Meeran Sharfi, Pakistan

Australia were on top of the world and aside from losing that classic test series against India they seemed on the road to continued success. With that in mind I can't understand why the Australian selectors would remove the Waugh's from the one day side. Why try and fix what isn't broken?
Dmitri, USA

Waughs or no Waughs, beating Pakistan in its current form is a question of mind over matter.
Shahid Akbar, New York

I think the Aussie selectors have got it spot on with the Waughs. To remove them while many consider them still in their prime may appear harsh, but to be honest neither of them can consistently score heavily these days.

The Aussies have been so successful over the last decade or so because they have shown a ruthless streak which has no room for the sentimental retention of players, as evidenced by the way Ian Healey was ousted by Adam Gilchrist.

If any team is to succeed, it has to evolve, and (older) players must be gradually replaced with suitable replacements. Sadly, every career eventually comes to an end, no matter how glittering it has been.
Phil Vaughan-Smith, UK

Australia have had a very strong captain and reliable batsman in Steve Waugh. His presence in this Australian lineup would definitely have made a big difference. I don't see another player in the current Australian line up who could lead as well as Steve.
Imad Brohi, Pakistan

If Pakistan can annihilate them without Saqlain and Razzaq then I think bringing in the aging Waughs won't do the trick either. I think on current form the Pakistanis are absolutely too hot to handle for anyone and the only weak link is their inconsistent batting.
Fahd Sirohey, USA

Steve Waugh although older and suffering a loss of form was no reason to axe him as captain, the mental strength and resilience that Steve Waugh instils in his teams and his scientific approach always kept the Aussies a step ahead of the opposition.

Steve should have remained captain until the World cup in South Africa and been allowed to retire gracefully. This is the least he deserves for his part in taking Australian Cricket to where it is today.
Khaistor Troy, Scotland

The two Waugh twins are stunning players. The Australian cricket board should think again before leaving them out of the squad next time.
Usman Haider, Pakistan

The Aussies were a little more ruthless than needed; any player can suffer a dip in form that does not warrant treatment meted out to the Waugh brothers. They were and remain class acts, and should be recalled
Kashif Jan, Pakistan

Even if the Waugh twins were there Australia wouldn't really have succeeded. Two people can't change a team's hopes. They were beaten by Pakistan because of the wonderful bowling by Shoaib Akhtar.

It wouldn't really do Australia any good at this stage to recall the Waughs. Their careers have a reached an end.
Mona Rasheed, Qatar

Australia were simply outbowled in the decider on Wednesday. The presence of either Waugh would'nt have made any difference. With the World Cup only nine months away, it is far more important for Australia to blood new players than fall back on relics from the past.
Ron Ward, Australia

Instead of knocking the Aussies, more credit should be given to Pakistan and to the world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar for the way he destroyed the Ausralian top order.
Steven Carlsen, UK

Pakistan are a great side, though I don't know what all the fuss is about. Half the Australian team hadn't played a game in two months. Steve and Mark Waugh are so out of form, it would be unfair to bring them back.
Adrian, Australia

Kudos to the Australian selectors for giving other players a chance to shine and prove themselves. The Waugh brothers (and other players) have to work constantly for their place in the national side. Prior performance is irrelevant.
Tariq Shafi, USA

We need to stop living in fantasy land. These guys are only human and when the eye is not there they can't start performing miracles. The Waugh brothers were slowly declining in performance. The Aussie board were smart enough to let them go at the right time when there was still speculation that they were good enough to hold on to a place in the team.

They will not go back to them no matter how good they were in the past. What's the point of bringing them back? Wait till they are officially sacked after three consecutive golden ducks? Age is already an issue with the Australian team. They should not be brought back.
Umar, Pakistan

I do not understand why the Waugh brothers were left out of the team in first place, bad patches comes to every cricket player in their career, they must be put in the team as soon as possible.
Tahir, Pakistan

The mental aspect of the game plays a huge part to any side's success. Not to take anything away from Ricky Ponting as a fine batsman, he isn't even a shade of what Steve Waugh is as a captain. The mental toughness that Waugh instils in his players is phenomenal. Without him the Aussies are done as the top side in the world. Mark Waugh, however, is a great player, who is at the threshold of becoming past his prime, but could still merit a position on the Australian squad over Maher.

Pakistan on the other had are perhaps the best upcoming team in the world. I would rate Waqar as the best captain they have had since Imran Khan. With Abdul Razzak waiting in the ranks, they are poised to be the best side in the world.
Hasnain Sheikh, USA

I think Pakistan just outplayed the mighty Australians in today's decider. I don't think that the presence of the Waugh twins would have made much difference to the outcome of the game. The way Akhtar was bowling he was simply unstoppable, but I think for the future Australians might still require the services of the Waugh twins at least till the World Cup. Well played Pakistan you guys were superb today.
Khurram Humayun, USA

The two teams that seemed to be lined up to lift the World Cup were Pakistan and Australia. The recent loss will also boost the confidence of other teams such as South Africa, Sri Lanka and India when facing a rather less confident Australia. What the Aussies need to do is to either pack this team with more steam, and stop rotating players all too often or call the Waugh brothers a good six months in advance of World Cup; else, Pakistan will have no match.
Saleem Ropani, USA

Any decision to change the old guard is always bitter. However the selectors seem sure of their decision and should stick to it. Results don't show immediately but Australia should better for the experience in two to three years time.
Louis Forde, Barbados W.I

They should recall both of them because Mark is much more reliable and consistent than Maher and Hayden and Steve has better cricketing mind than Ponting. This series loss leaves the Australians with a reminder that the next year's World Cup defence will be tough.
Owais Dariyapuri, India

Australia have always done this. They make major changes, the team flutters for a while and then settles down and performs. Just like Steve Waugh, Bevan can also play in pressure situations. The story would probably have been the same for today's game even if the Waugh twins were playing. Shoaib was unstoppable and Wasim seems to have found a rhythm. Pakistan are right now either two or three in the world. They need to play more Tests to prove that, but they are.
Anon, Pakistan

Steve Waugh is the only batsman who can play under pressure. Australia rely too much on the heroics of Gilchrist and once he fails the whole team folds. The Australian team is always suspect under quality bowling.
Zafar, USA

What? I don't think so! The current Australian team is good, their selection has been always pretty apt. Even if the Waugh brothers played in this game the result wouldn't have been different. Pakistan at the moment are a better One day side.
Riz, USA

Australia were too hasty to drop Steve and Mark Waugh but now they are gone I think it would be an even more negative step to recall them. They couldn't go on forever and had to be replaced, and the selectors chose sooner rather than later.

They are now trying to create a new post-Waugh team and the last thing that the players in that team need is their confidence shattered by being told that they are not good enough. That said, it will take a lot of getting used to seeing the Australian team without Steve and Mark Waugh.
Steve Biggs, Uk

It was a disgrace the way Australia dumped the Waugh twins. They have been the backbone of Australia for so long. The day the two were sacked I knew the management had made a terrible mistake. Everyone has a bad series every now and then - it is not right to dump two superstars after one bad series.
Shan, Pakistan

Australia are currently considered the best in the world. What they failed to realise was that the Waugh twins played a huge part in putting the Aussies at the very top.

Steve especially brought about a huge change in their attitude and made them believe in themselves. If the Aussies had persisted with him for some time I am sure he would have made amends for the triangular series loss.
Sanju, USA

Steve Waugh would certainly bring stability to the team with his experience under testing conditions - one only needs to look back to the World Cup semi-final against South Africa to show what a great player he is.

Age is no hindrance and Alec Stewart is showing that for England currently. Players should be picked on merit and not age.
Ronnie Chopra, London, England

Waugh, Waugh, Waugh, what are they good for ...the one-day World Cup. Bring them back!
Scott Savill, Australia

Australia were definitely too hasty in dropping Steve Waugh from the one-day side. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a bad run, and could not have been based on form because Steve was one of the better performers in that series in Australia.

Considering the latitude given to Alan Border at the end of his illustrious career, it does seem ironic that he himself would lead the call for Steve to be dropped. There seems to be an epidemic of selective amnesia on the board of Australian selectors at the moment.
David Whitely, UK

No. At least it gives rest of the cricketing fraternity participating in next year's World Cup a shot at beating Oz.
Vineet, UK

Sure, after today's lose to Pakistan, Steve Waugh definitely deserves a come-back chance.
Farhan Quavi, Canada

The two Waughs are finished. Warne and McGrath are in their thirties. The Aussies are hopefully about to hit a period of transition. The team which is in prime position to take over is Pakistan (as long as, God-willing, they get the luck, stick together and stay clear from injuries).

Imran Nazir, Youhana, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzak, Shaid Afridi, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Muhammad Sami - all these guys are very young. Come on Pakistan!
Akbar Khan, England

If Australia is counting on his bowling skills besides batting, both Mark and Steve Waugh are equally capable bowlers in addition to being better batsmen than Lehman. Also, Shane Watson's place in the team is questionable based on his bowling skills. I think they need to rethink their one-day eleven, which ought to include both the Waugh brothers.
Hasan Jafar, USA

The result of the one-day series with Pakistan has revealed that the Waugh brothers were not the "reason" for the poor performance in the "Triangular Series" after which Australia dropped them. The selectors should reconsider their entry into the team.
Anurag, India

I think they should be called for the one-day side. Both the brothers can play in the World Cup and I am sure they will be a dominant side.
Sundar, India

It seems Australia aren't the only team in the world that can produce the goods. Pakistan severely shatterd the Australians and they deserve credit for an outstanding show of bowling by top paceman Shoaib and wondeful knocks by Yousaf Youhana, Imran Nazir and the main man himself, Wasim Akram.

Pakistan should never be underestimated, they have the quality and strength to destroy anything thrown at them when they are in their prime. Everyone beware, the Rawalpindi Express has arrived at its destination!
Umair Mohammed, Scotland