Mark Waugh in; Steve Waugh out: The Ashes selection call which captivated a nation

It’s 35 years since Mark Waugh made a stunning Test debut in Adelaide, replacing brother Steve. It remains one of Australian sport’s most captivating moments, but for them, it was just “a fact”.

It was the selection which captivated Australian cricket for decades but, in typically laidback fashion, Mark Waugh recalls it with the nonchalance of a man catching a breaker to the beach.

“It was just a normal conversation between us,’’ Waugh said.

“Neither of us get that high or low emotionally. It was just a matter of fact. We were fairly nonchalant about the whole situation to be honest.’’

He’s talking about one of the watershed selection moments in Australian cricket history when Australia dropped Steve Waugh and replaced him with twin brother Mark for the Adelaide Ashes Test against England in the 1990-91 summer.

Mark Waugh on his way to a century in his Test debut.

Wednesday’s Test in the 35th anniversary of that game when Mark roared off to make a sublime 138 on debut, barely playing a false shot.

Australia had just come out of doggedly challenging decade but the sight of Waugh lighting it up pointed the team towards a brighter world. You could almost hear the heavily-fastened shackles of a decade of hard toil bursting.

Legend has it that when Waugh returned to the dressing room he said to Allan Border “I should have been picked years ago.’’

Waugh says he made the comment in jest ... sort of.

“It was a bit of a throwaway line ... but I had a pretty good year,’’ said Kayo Sports commentator Waugh.

“I felt I could have snuck in the Ashes tour in 1989 when Mike Veletta, Tom Moody and I were after the one spot. It was a cheeky throwaway line.

“I remember thinking I could not play any better. The first one was a short ball from Phil DeFreitas down the leg side which nearly brushed my glove. Then I hit a three down the ground to get off the mark and just remember hitting the ball so cleanly. I was in the zone.’’

The odd spot of the innings came from short leg fieldsman Robin Smith, who died in Perth this month. After Waugh reached his century Smith said to him “release the handbrake China.’’

Waugh said “it was nice of him to say it - it was exceedingly friendly for a Test.’’

Australian cricket fans were consumed by the sheer oddity of one twin being replaced by another but Waugh recalls the conversation between he and Stephen at his mother’s house when the swap was revealed as typical of the clipped, concise, no-nonsense chats between the duo.

Mark Waugh with his baggy green cap on the eve of his Test debut.

And Mark Waugh, relaxing after reaching his century.

“The first I had heard of it was from Stephen. He said you are in the team and I said “oh great’’ and I said “who got dropped?’’ he said “I did.’’

“I think mum was pretty happy for me but disappointed for Stephen. It was a tricky situation for any parent. It wasn’t long before Stephen got back in anyway.

“It wasn’t great news for Stephen but at least there was one Waugh in the team. There could have been none.’’

The Waugh twins ended up playing 108 Tests together and became the subject of endless comparisons and contrasts.

Mark loved racing and still does. Steve would barely have a flutter on the Melbourne Cup. Steve took thousands of photos on tour. Mark did not take a camera. The boys would go out together in a group but not as a duo. Mark called his brother Stephen, never Steve.

They would sit beside each other on planes because of the alphabet listing but never room together, quipping nine months together in the same womb and 16 years in the same room was quite enough thanks. These day they still have separate interests and lifestyles as many brothers do.

Steve and Mark Waugh played more than 100 Tests together. Picture: AFP

“Stephen lives in south of Sydney where I am up the central coast. We have our own lives. There is always the occasional function - we got together for dad’s 80th birthday last month. All the boys were there.’’

When they were playing Steve was seen as the fighter and Mark the one with the flair which annoyed both of them because the truth was they were closer in style than given credit for.

“You get labelled a certain style of player,” he said.

“It was funny we both retired from first class cricket in the same game for NSW at the SCG. I got 70-odd and Stephen did not make a lot and that innings enabled me to take my first class average just above Stephens in that last innings.

“It was amazing that after all those innings we had played our first class averages were almost identical. I made more one-day runs but Stephen had a better Test average than me.

“At the end of the day we were just happy to play and be part of successful teams. Averages are averages. We played in winning sides - Bankstown, NSW and Australia - and that means more than averages.

“We will be remembered in slightly different ways.’’

Originally published as Mark Waugh in; Steve Waugh out: The Ashes selection call which captivated a nation