players are doing much well in their 30's

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh was a special invitee at the Richie Benaud's sculpture unveiling function at the SCG on Thursday along with quite a few former New South Wales greats. Waugh was much in demand once the function was over as newsmen mobbed him for sound-bites.

Not the one to back away from a challenge the older of the Waugh twins obliged by speaking on various issues. Excerpts from his interaction with the media: It's always a special place to come back to as I have some great memories of this ground. I still feel a bit nervous walking in.

When you play as a unit, you learn to get along. That they have not been the best of mates has been well-documented. As long as you have respect for each other, it's fair enough. Shane's in the media now and everyone is entitled to his opinion. For newspaper people, it makes good copy. Players are much better looked after these days. Being 35 today is like being 30, fifteen years ago.

The toughest job for an India coach is to deal with what the selectors want. If you're trying to build something for the future you don't have time to put things in place. I think in some ways the problem in India is patience, or the lack of it. It was the same with Australia in the 1980s, when they lost four or five players. They picked a core group of people and sorted out the tough times.