'Wasn't that interested': Steve Waugh's son walks away from cricket

Legendary former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh’s son Austin has decided to take a sabbatical from the game.

Austin Waugh, 21, has reportedly informed Sydney grade club Sutherland, where former Test great Glenn McGrath also played, that he intends to take a break from cricket to rediscover his passion for the game.

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Sutherland teammate Ben Dwarshuis said the younger Waugh undoubtedly had great talent, but said his famous surname was certainly something of a burden.

“He wasn’t that interested in playing this year and wanted to spend a little bit of time away from it,” Dwarshuis said in an interview with 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.”

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong junior career, representing NSW in under-age cricket and earning selection in Australia’s under-19 team as an all-rounder.

He also appeared as a substitute fielder for Australia during the 2018/19 Test series.

Test hopefuls flop in crucial India hit-out

Will Pucovski and Joe Burns' much hyped bat-off has flopped after both failed to impress selectors in Australia A's tour match against the Indians.

Pucovski went for just one, cutting Umesh Yadav to point before Burns was caught behind two overs later by the same bowler for four.

Travis Head also fell cheaply before lunch on day two when he chopped on off Mohammed Siraj for 18, leaving Australia A 3-60 in reply to the Indians' 9(dec)-247.

Marcus Harris, who has been in superb early-season form, has been the only batsman to score freely, going to the break unbeaten on 33.

Burns and Pucovski could well open together in the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval if David Warner does not recover from a groin injury in time.

If Warner is fit, selectors will be forced to choose just one of the pair.

Burns is the clear front-runner with team management, having been backed by coach Justin Langer after finishing last summer as the incumbent.

However he has passed 11 just once in his five Sheffield Shield innings so far this year, and went when he tried to leave Yadav on Monday.

Pucovski meanwhile hit double centuries in two of his three innings for Victoria this summer, and is seen as a star of the future.

But his attempt to press his case didn't go to plan at Sydney's Drummoyne Oval, surviving an lbw appeal from a Mohammed Siraj inswinger before being caught.

The Indians had earlier declared just 20 minutes into the second morning, with Ajinkya Rahane finishing unbeaten on 117

Australia A lost Jackson Bird to a calf/Achilles injury, after he limped off the field as he ran in to bowl just the third ball of the day.

He will be sent for scans ahead of his Big Bash campaign with the Sydney Sixers, who also lost Tom Curran from their squad on Monday.

James Pattinson was the best of the bowlers with 3-58.

With AAP

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