Steve Waugh rejects proposal in cricket’s divisive bouncer debate

Steve Waugh has waded into the most delicate cricket debate going around, and as far as the Aussie legend is concerned, there’s only one answer.

Steve Waugh wants to keep the bouncer.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has weighed in on cricket’s bouncer debate, firmly opposing any proposal to ban the short ball.

The notion of bouncers being outlawed has generated plenty of discussion among cricket scribes and pundits in the past week, in the wake of multiple concussion scares.

Watch Australia v India Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with the Fox Cricket commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Australian young gun Will Pucovski was robbed of a Test debut after being concussed for the ninth time when he was hit on the head while batting for Australia A against an Indian XI in Sydney.

In the next Australia A game at the SCG, paceman Harry Conway was subbed out with concussion after being struck on the head as he was targeted with a brutal bouncer barrage by Jasprit Bumrah, who was steaming in from around the wicket.

These recent incidents have prompted questions about the bouncer’s place in the game, balancing the battle of ball vs bat against the need to protect players.

Australian sports journalist Malcolm Knox wrote last weekend the bouncer will eventually be banned, given we are learning more and more about the dangerous effects of concussions. However, Waugh hopes that’s not the case.

“It’s a part of the game and as a top-order batsman, you want to test yourself against the best bowlers in the toughest situations,” Waugh told The Cricket Show on Sky Sports. “They’re often against a quick bowler who is at his peak and bowling short balls at your body and you’ve got to just work out a way to survive.

“It does take courage, a really good game plan and it takes skill. I think you want to be tested at that top level and if you took the bouncer out of the game, it would take away that element that I think the crowd loves seeing a bowler steaming in and bowling short balls.”

Will Pucovski has been concussed too many times.

Steve Smith missed the third Ashes Test last year with concussion after being floored by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s. Waugh was part of the Aussie camp for much of that tour and was in the Lord’s dressing room when Smith went down.

But while that was a terrifying moment, the 55-year-old is adamant the balance would be tipped too far in favour of batsmen if bowlers weren’t allowed to bang the ball in short, Waugh saying batsmen need to develop better techniques and plans to combat bouncers.

“At Lord’s, there was a hush around the ground, it was excitement, it was what Test match cricket is all about,” Waugh said.

“If you take that away, it takes the skill level out of the game and it takes that courage element which is required from a top-order batsman.

“I’m definitely against the bouncer being outlawed — it’s part of the game and it is something that you’ve got to learn to play better. Some of the younger players are perhaps relying on their protective equipment to get them out of a dangerous situation.

“Obviously, after that players have become comfortable wearing helmets and have perhaps lost the skill of playing the short ball as well as in the past.”

RELATED: Disaster sets up unthinkable Kohli first

RELATED: Umpire savaged for ‘ridiculous’ robbery

Smith going down was the scariest moment of the Ashes.