Waugh turns Ganguly admirer
STEVE Waugh last night lavished praise on the "king" who showed contempt for him and the game in one of cricket's greatest series.
In a timely gesture before Sourav Ganguly's 100th Test, beginning on Boxing Day, Waugh revealed his begrudging respect for the former Indian captain.
"You don't have to like or dislike him. You have to respect him," he said.
"That's probably the best accolade you can get in international cricket, is earning respect from your own teammates and opposition.
"There are certain things that rub people the wrong way, but that's just him."
The relationship between the two former captains was an intriguing sub-plot of the 2001 and 2003-04 series, the latter Waugh's last before retiring.
On the 2001 tour of India, Ganguly got under Australia's skin by failing to turn up on time for the toss on four occasions during the Test and one-day series, often leaving Waugh standing in the outfield with his blood boiling.
Tension also flared before a one-day game in Indore, India, when Ganguly claimed a victory at the toss.
He was overruled by West Indian match referee Cammie Smith, who declared the coin had landed in Waugh's favour.
When Ganguly reached his half-century in the final one-day game in Goa, he provocatively took a red rag out of his pocket, which seemed a taunt at Waugh's famous handkerchief.
"I think there were times when he pushed it a bit far with the toss," Waugh said.
"It wasn't only myself, the match referee warned him a number of times not to do it and he continued to do it.
"That was a lack of respect. But that was his choice, fair enough. That's dead and buried now.
"But . . . he certainly is a very good player and it's a credit to the way he has come back.
"Being dropped as a captain, in Australia that is a death sentence.
"But in India they give you a chance to get back in the side. He has fought hard to get back in there and he is probably batting as well as he has ever batted.
"That's great resilience, great resistance and that's a good example to the younger players."
Ganguly was controversially axed during Greg Chappell's reign as coach, the drama beginning early in 2005 on the tour of Zimbabwe, when the Australian great privately suggested his skipper concentrate solely on his flagging batting.
Ganguly threatened to leave mid-tour but backed down after some calming words from the team manager.
The spat, unsurprisingly, was quickly made public and bubbled along until he was sacked as skipper and replaced by Rahul Dravid in November, 2005.
Worse was to come for Ganguly when he was dropped from the team in January, 2006.
This sparked fiery street protests in Ganguly's home town of Kolkata and angry speeches in Indian Parliament.
Ganguly vowed to return and his determination didn't surprise those that know the son of a wealthy Kolkata printer.
Nicknamed the Maharaj (King), he lives in a family mansion and has been known to carry himself like royalty.
His perseverance to get what he wants was shown when, against his family's wishes, he secretly dated and married the daughter of a family that ran a rival printing firm.
The decision stunned both families but eventually brought both together.
"I think he has rubbed people up the wrong way," Waugh said.
"That's fine. He's the type of bloke you would want to have on your side. Every side has got those players."
Ganguly returned to the side for the home series against Sri Lanka in 2003 but in the hotbed of politics that is Indian cricket, he was reinstated as a "bowling all-rounder" despite having a bowling average of more than 50.
His reincarnation began to take shape on the 2006-07 tour of South Africa when he was the leading runscorer, and his strong form continued in England mid-year in a breakthrough series win.
The comeback was complete with back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan at home, including a 239 in Bangalore.
Ganguly's 144 at the Gabba four years ago is arguably still his greatest knock, and Waugh knows how desperate the left-hander, who averages a modest 32.46 against Australia, will be to prove himself this summer.
"When you see an Indian side with Ganguly in the line-up, you know it's game on," Waugh said.