HE has been called a street lighter'. a fulminating maniac a cheater' and what not. Controvery has followed him throughout his career. He has been fined on numerous occasions for showing dissent and using abusive language.

Yes. he is Steve Waugh, the ice-man' of the Aussie Cricket team. Steve Waugh has showed to us that cricket is not Just a game of technical and physical abilities but there is also a mental and psychological aspect in it. and you will find very few players, if any, in the world cricket today who has the fierce determination, mental toughness and fighting qualities that Steve Waugh has.

Throughout Steve Waughs career some critics have said , that his style of batting is awkward and uncouth. The fact was out that he couldn't play short pitched stuff. But these things didn’t bother Steve; he worked hard on his game and developed a unique style entirely of his own. Fast bowlers throughout the world have pestered him with short bowling but he is prepared to hang about and take a few blows on the body. There can be no better example that his courageous 200 (n.o) in Kingston. Jamaica, where he was impervious against the hostile West Indian attack.

With the bowl in his hand Steve is also brilliant. He doesn't have the pace of Waqar or

Danald but bowls some swingers and cutters and always chips in with wickets. He was the first bowler who introduced and perfected the slow ball in one day cricket. He will have a word or two to the batsman to upset his concentration. How many times we have see-him getting after the batsman in this way and eventually picking up the wicket.

Steve Waugh is a pugnacious character who will not flinch from having a go at the opponents. He will do anything (well, almost anything) to get the Job done. He doesn't seem to have a defensive love for his body. His belligerence on the field is very much typical of the Australian cricketers of the past and present. But it is also true that, whatever he may be on the field, off the field, he is a very amiable and affable guy. which is a testimony of his professionalism, if nothing

It is always pleasure to watch Steve Waugh in the middle. the way he looks, eyes full of calmness, determination, and intense concentration. He has gone from strength to strength and has now become one of the leading all rounders of world cricket today and one can be assured of the fact that wherever, whenever he plays cricket, he will play the only way he knows how to play — the hard way.