Trust, respect and humility.
They are the three pillars in which the Randwick Petersham Cricket Club have been built on for more than two decades, and now they’ve helped get Austin Waugh back on track.
The 25-year-old son of former Australian captain Steve Waugh stepped away from the game a number of years ago, despite appearing destined for higher honours.
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Waugh featured in the green and gold in the U19s World Cup, ran drinks for the Test team and was scoring plenty of runs in grade cricket for Sutherland, beginning to mount a case to play state cricket for NSW at a rather young age.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Waugh walked away from cricket altogether and there were doubts he would ever make his way back.
A younger Austin Waugh with former Australian coach Justin Langer. Getty
The right-hander returned last season with Sutherland, before making the jump to one of Sydney’s proudest clubs and plying his trade at Coogee Oval.
Waugh has since gone on to enjoy an incredible first season with Randy Petes, scoring four centuries at the top of the order and playing a pivotal role as the club added to their trophy cabinet with another triumph in the Limited-Overs Cup.
“We sat down of course in pre-season with the hierarchy at the club and talked about if he wanted to join the club and how he’d fit in,” club president and former Test quick Mike Whitney told Wide World of Sports.
“We settled all of that and Steve was involved in those discussions and then Austin turned up, looking pretty fit and very energetic.
“Austin is pretty quiet, he doesn’t waste his words and I just told him in pre-season that all I wanted to see was Austin Waugh – nobody else, no one more and no one less.
“It looked like he had missed the game. He fell back in love with the game really quickly.”
Waugh’s crucial efforts over the course of the season with both bat and ball have now culminated with a selection in the NSW Second XI team for a clash against South Australia – an achievement that seemed quite unlikely during his multi-year absence.
Randy Petes head coach Michael Haire – who has overseen a litany of success during his tenure at the club – gave a rare glimpse into Waugh’s traits on and off the cricket field, which led to his first senior cap for NSW.
“He’s very quiet, but he’s got that swag in him,” Haire told Wide World of Sports.
“He’s quiet in the dressing room but he’s got a very good cricket brain and he shares that with our captain Riley Ayre when it’s appropriate.
“He’s been very good for us and we’re very happy to have him. I’m personally pleased for him, because what doesn’t get seen on the weekend is the hard work he does.
“Everything he’s achieved is because of his hard work and it’s not as if he’s just simply been blessed by the Waugh genes – it’s a massive credit to him.”
Austin Waugh celebrates a century for Randwick Petersham. Peter Bannigan
Waugh came into a well-established first grade team which has won a plethora of titles in recent years under Haire, with the nucleus of the squad sticking together.
The likes of Anthony Sams – older brother of Big Bash star Daniel – as well as Jason Ralston, Daya Singh and skipper Riley Ayre have all fostered an environment where off-field bonds are just as crucial to the team’s success as on-field results.
Mixing that group in with the likes of youngster Angus McTaggart, new recruit Eknoor Singh and club stalwarts Ben Montedoro and Ashley Burton has allowed Waugh to integrate seamlessly into the ranks and become part of something special.
“He’s bought into our environment and what we are trying to achieve, which is to be in a competitive cricket environment and part of the community,” Haire said.
“He’s embraced it and accepted what we do and adopted the way we play.
Randwick Petersham celebrate after the Limited-Overs Cup grand final. Facebook
“I say it to the boys every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – let’s go and have fun and enjoy ourselves, because if you don’t enjoy it, it becomes a chore and it drains you.
“Austin has come into a club that is all about trust, respect and humility. What he has achieved on the field is a reflection of the environment that he’s been exposed to.”
What comes next remains unknown, but Waugh’s desire to make a fist of becoming a professional cricketer once more is a testament to his work ethic.
Should he take his Randy Petes form with him to the NSW colours, Waugh could find himself back on track to play first-class or List A cricket in the years to come.
“He’s got the talent and he’s just got to trust the skills he has got and the hard work he’s done to be successful at that level,” Haire said.
“He doesn’t have to change anything and sometimes I think players can try too hard and that can often be a recipe for disaster.
“Austin has got the skills and all he needs is that belief that those skills will be enough.”
Austin Waugh celebrates a century. Peter Bannigan
Whitney echoed those same sentiments and believes the best is yet to come for Waugh.
“I don’t think Austin realises how good he is,” he said.
“He plays his cards very close to his chest, but he is very determined and I think because of his upbringing, he knows what it takes.
“I think he can definitely take the next step from second XI to the Shield or one-day side and he’s good enough to do that, absolutely.”
