'That's What Test Cricket Is All About' - Steve Waugh Strongly Opposes Banning The Bouncer

Former Australia captain, Steve Waugh has discouraged the appeal of banning the bouncer. Fans ad even some former cricketers have urged the ICC to look in the usage of over usage of the bouncer from fast bowlers.

This began after young opening batsman, Will Pucovski was hit by a short ball from Kartik Tyagi in the first warm-up match between India A and Australia A. The right-hander suffered a concussion and was then taken off the field. He was later ruled out from the second warm-up match and the first Test against India in Adelaide. This is also reported to be the 22-year-old’s ninth concussion in his short domestic career.

The Indian pacers were criticized after they hurled down a barrage of bouncers towards the tailenders against Australia A in the second practice match which was played with a pink ball. Post that the talks of getting away with bouncers have raised.

Definitely against the ban of the bouncers: Steve Waugh

However, Steve Waugh doesn’t at all concur with those thoughts. Waugh opines a bouncer is a difficult ball to play which demands great courage from a batsman to play it. He thinks that as a batter you want to get tested against the best balls- which a bouncer is.

“Look it’s part of the game, as an opener and top-order batsmen you would want to test yourself against the best balls and tough situations. And quite often, a bowler at his peak bowls at your body and you’ve got to just work out a way to survive. It does take a lot of courage and a really good game plan and it takes skill. That’s why you wanna be tested,” Steve Waugh told Sky Sports.

The 55-year-old boldly stated that surviving against a fast short ball requires a great deal of skillet; that is what Test cricket is about. Waugh believes that if the bouncer is banned, it will take the courage aspect away from a batter’s game. The right-hander is completely against the idea of getting away the bouncer and feels that it is a part of the game.

“There’s excitement, that’s what Test cricket is all about. It takes the skill away from the game, it takes away the courage element which is required from a top-order batsman, that’s part of the game so I’m definitely against the ban of the bouncers, it’s part of the game and it’s something you have got to learn to play better,” Steve Waugh added.

Also Read: Revealed: Team India’s Unusual Pitch Demand During Adelaide Test