Sourav Ganguly brought toughness to Indian cricket: Steve Waugh

Days after criticising Sourav Ganguly, legendary Australian cricketer Steve Waugh today hailed the former India skipper, saying he brought toughness to the Indian side.

Steve Waugh

In his latest visit to the city in connection with Udayan, a rehabilitation home for children suffering from leprosy in colonies near Barrackpore which the Australian support, Waugh praised the retired Indian skipper and said he was a brilliant cricketer.

"I mean this is Kolkata and Sourav you know is a great captain. Sourav brought that toughness to the Indian side," Waugh said. Asked to compare Ganguly with captain 'cool' Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Waugh said: "Both are very different captains.

They both have been very good." Waugh backed the struggling Australian team, who is trailing 0-2 against England in the ongoing Ashes after the rain-marred third Test ended in a draw. "Well they did quite well in the last Test match.

It's a young side that is capable of becoming a good side but it will take some time," the former Australia skipper said. However, Waugh said it would be difficult for Michael Clarke's men to level the series 2-2.

"If Australia can make it 2-2, it will be an amazing result. But it's going to be difficult," he said. Waugh further reiterated that he is in support of the controvesial DRS what if some some decisions went against Australia in the ongoing Ashes.

"They haven't suffered because of the DRS. I have said it many times that the DRS is a very good system. The umpiring hasn't been probably as strong but at the end of the day you get more decisions right than wrong."u00a0