Austin Waugh, son of Steve Waugh, falls out of love with cricket

The burden of carrying one of the most famous names in Australian sport has proved too much for this young cricket star.

Austin Waugh in action for the Australian Under 19's at the SCG. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Austin Waugh – the son of former Australian Test captain Steve Waugh – has quietly walked away from cricket in a bid to fall in love with the game again.

The ex-Australian under-19 all-rounder is taking an indefinite break and has told his club side Sutherland not to expect him back in the near future.

“He wasn’t that interested in playing this year and wanted to spend a little bit of time away from it,” Sutherland captain Ben Dwarshuis told The Sunday Telegraph.

“He’s a great player with a lot of potential but you never want to push someone to play.

“The game can take its toll and having Waugh as a surname just adds that little bit of extra pressure.

“I think he’s enjoying a bit of time away. Hopefully he takes a year off and comes back refreshed and loving his cricket again.”

Austin has inevitably been compared to his famous father throughout his career but insists Steve is very supportive but happy to stay in the background.

“He’s always going to be there, people are going to have an interest in him, being the player that he was,” the 21-year-old said in a recent interview.

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Austin Waugh of Australia runs drinks during day one of the Fourth Test match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground in 2019. Picture: by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I am not worried about that. People see him as a different person (but) I just see him as my dad.”

Austin was an unused emergency fielder for the Australian team in the fourth Test against India two years ago and faced veteran paceman Peter Siddle in the SCG nets while the game played out.

Waugh’s former teammates at Sutherland took a big step towards climbing out of the bottom half of the table with a resounding first innings win over Western Suburbs at Glenn McGrath Oval on Saturday.

Defending an imposing 4-365 (dec), the Sharks bowled the Panthers out for just 217.

Opening bowler Andrew Ritchie was the standout, taking 6-55.

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Sydney University is the new competition leader after collecting maximum points against Hawkesbury at Owen Earle Oval.

The Students rolled the Hawks for just 99 runs before taking a lead midway through day one.

They declared at 7-248 on the back of a Nick Larkin century, rolled the home side for 188 and racked-up the 40 runs needed for outright victory.

Manly-Warringah lost top spot after its high-scoring clash with Northern District ended in a draw in fading light at Mark Taylor Oval.

Spinner Elliott Herd did his best to pull off a late miracle, taking the last four wickets to fall as NDs finished 8-320 in reply to Manly’s 350.

Top order batsman Dave Lowery’s proved the difference, stonewalling the visitors for 408 minutes in scoring an unbeaten 128.

An unbroken ninth wicket partnership between tailenders Mac Jenkins (26 not out) and Matt Alexander (35 not out) steered North Sydney to a tense victory over Randwick-Petersham at Coogee Oval.

Austin Waugh talks to his parents Steve and Lynette before a T20 game between the Australian under 17's and the Australian Under 19's at the SCG. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Chasing 228, the Bears looked in trouble when they lost three wickets for 16 runs to slump to 8-165.

But tailenders Jenkins and Alexander were untroubled in picking off the 64 runs required for victory.

A defiant second innings from Blacktown denied Eastern Suburbs all 10 points at Waverley Oval.

The Dolphins (7-382) had to settle for first innings points after making the Mounties (149 and 3-87) follow on.

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St George skipper Nathan Stapleton had a game to remember as the Dragons crushed Gordon at Chatswood Oval.

Stapleton belted 167 batting at No. 3 – helping Saints reach 9-317 (dec) – and claimed match figures of 4-60 after opening the bowling in both innings.

Gordon narrowly staved off outright defeat, ending day two at 9-213 after being routed for 142 in its first innings.

Centuries to Suffan Hussan (116 not out) and Adrian Isherwood (113) were not enough for UNSW to force victory over Fairfield-Liverpool.

The match finished in a draw after the Bees finished day two 6-248 in response to the Lions’ 290.

Hussan and Isherwood’s third wicket partnership was worth 219.

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Western Suburbs are hopeful Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan Jnr will be with them by Christmas after being stranded in Lahore due to a visa hold up.

Irfan Jnr has quit Pakistani cricket to start a new life in Australia with Wests, but his 408 visa expired during the Covid lockdown.

The 25-year-old had to undergo a biometric test before being granted a new 408 visa and is now awaiting the final paperwork before flying to Australia.

Irfan Jnr, who took 32 wickets in just seven appearances for Wests, is seeking Australian residency.

It’s understood the 198cm paceman is on the radar of BBL outfit Sydney Thunder and has also caught the attention of at least two Sheffield Shield sides.

“It will be a great Christmas present for Wests but I’m not sure other clubs will be as happy – he’s a handful with ball in hand,” Wests official Rick Wayde quipped.

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Australia’s favourite weatherman Tim Bailey has issued a forecast to all NSW Premier Cricket captains.

“Points in the bag will be like gold because the rain is coming in a big way,” Bailey told The Sunday Telegraph.

“We are heading into an El Nino summer and that will mean heavy downfalls in that December-January-February period.

“We all know rain and cricket don’t mix so those who have racked up a few wins early in the season before the big wet hits will be well placed.”

Bailey, who can now be heard regularly on 2GB, is across his cricket as much as the weather.

He sat on the board at Manly for several years, overseeing a period of great success at the club.