Steve Waugh not a fan of neutral Test venues

Michael Donaldson

October 8, 2002

COLOMBO - Steve Waugh isn't a fan of neutral venues for Test cricket. After Australia won the first Test against Pakistan by 41 runs at the "nice" venue of Colombo Oval, Waugh said he'd rather not play at neutral venues if it could be avoided.

"It's good if you're watching it on TV," Waugh said.

"But from a player's point of view you want some atmosphere at the ground.

"You want crowds ... this is a nice place to play but you want to play at a place like Eden Gardens (in Calcutta) where you play in front of 85,000 - that's what you play for in Test cricket.

"I'm not having a go at what happened here but playing in front of 500 people is not the same as playing in front of 70 or 80,000.

"If there's a reason to play at a neutral venue, fair enough, but otherwise, no."

Crowds of only a few hundred turned up each day to watch what turned out to be an excellent Test match here but Sri Lankans generally don't watch Test cricket let alone when their own side isn't involved.

The series is being played at neutral venues after Australia refused to tour Pakistan for security fears.

The next two Tests will be played at Sharjah, which is closer to being a home venue for Pakistan as it's an Islamic country with a large expatriate Pakistan population.

Pakistan has played two Tests there, for wins against the West Indies, as well as a welter of one-dayers.

"This was an important win for us here," Waugh said.

"Conditions will suit Pakistan more in Sharjah and they've played quite a bit of cricket there and they'll have big support there."

© 2002 AAP

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