Sydney: Selectors have given Steve Waugh until Sunday to say whether he wants to continue his Australian Test career in the West Indies next month. The chief of Australia's selection panel said on Tuesday he must know by Sunday, with a likely phone hook-up later that day, to determine the 15-man squad to play the West Indies in four Tests. Waugh has not revealed his intentions and he again brushed off questions at a press conference here on Tuesday ahead of Friday's Sheffield Shield cricket final between Queensland and New South Wales at the Gabba in Brisbane. "No comment. I'm here to talk about the NSW game," Waugh said. Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said he would speak with Waugh in Brisbane later this week, with the Test captain's future now looking increasingly assured. If 37-year-old Waugh plays on for Australia, the race for a reserve batting spot will become even tighter with rising NSW star Michael Clarke further enhancing his claims with a quick-fire century last weekend. Clarke and Queensland pair Martin Love and paceman Ashley Noffke can boost their claims during the Shield final, although Hohns expected most of the selection issues were already settled. "I would hate to say that there is a lot hinging on this match," Hohns said. "There are a few blokes on show who are a realistic chance. In our minds, we have most of the squad already down and it's a matter of checking the form of some players this weekend." Waugh has been in terrific scoring for NSW since his unforgettable century against England in the fifth Ashes Test here in early January. He has scored three centuries for his state in the last five weeks. Hohns said he will receive reports on the fitness of paceman Jason Gillespie (heel) before the tour squad leaves on April 1.
Copyright AFP 2001
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