I made Waugh eat his words - Leatherdale

Jul 24 2005 By Ben Mottram

DAVID Leatherdale will never forget the day he stir-fried the mighty Australians - and made Steve Waugh prawn crackers!

All-rounder Leatherdale was the unlikely Aussie destroyer in 1997 when Worcestershire stunned the Baggy Greens.

The Bradford-born campaigner took five for 10 as the tourists were skittled for 121 before hitting the winning runs in a famous five-wicket triumph.

Australia skipper Waugh later famously claimed in his Ashes diary that Leatherdale "would not get a bowl in a Chinese restaurant".

However, the veteran has revealed that he left the Aussie legend choking on his words a few years later when he "spring bowled" him before serving up some sledging of the sweet and sour variety.

"To play the Australians and give them a good stuffing at home is about as good as it gets," said Leatherdale.

"I took five wickets and then hit Greg Blewett for two successive fours to win the game. I walked off eight not out off four balls and pretty happy with life.

"The way Steve Waugh rubbished my bowling at the end of the tour didn't bother me a bit - he can't take the wickets off me.

"I'm not the sort of person who bears a grudge. If I were Brett Lee and could bowl at 100mph then maybe I could fire a few quicks into remind him.

"However, a few years later when he played for Kent as their overseas player he came out to bat against me in a one-day game-I got to rub it in then.

"I managed to bowl him and our wicket keeper Jamie Pipe gave him a great send-off. All the guys came to celebrate with me shouting 'we'll have a number 59, Steve, with fried rice'.

"I remember seeing a great picture of me being hugged by the other guys while Steve Waugh was walking off. It is one of those one-off moments you never forget."

Leatherdale picked up the prize scalps of Justin Langer, Brendon Julian, Michael Kasprowicz, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the Australians were embarrassed in 1997.

The Worcestershire team of 2005 will be aiming to repeat the famous feat on Saturday when the Pears start a three-day game against the tourists.

However, Leatherdale admits the odds are firmly stacked against the Pears routing the worldchampions all over again.

"We used to play them first game of the summer when they had just got off the plane,"hesaid.

"Itused to work to our advantage because they would always be a little bit rusty still- but I don't think we can count on that this summer with the game falling between Tests against England.

"As a club we've always done quite well against the touring sides.

"We got annihilated a few years back by Australia, but apart from that we have always got stuck into them and been competitive.

"However, this time I expect them to be somewhere near their peak. As it is the only game between the two Test matches I expect them to play a full-strength side and go all out for a win."

Leatherdale proved to be the Australian nemesis eight years ago with his nagging medium pace but thi ssummer will form the welcoming party.

The popular all-rounder now combines his one-day playing days with his role as commercial director at New Road.

And he insists he is more than happy to remain on the sidelines and not come out of first-class retirement to try to haunt the world champions one more time.

"At the moment I don't think it's a good idea and I won't be having a word in Steve Rhodes' ear. Playing three days might just finish me off," hejoked.

"I had my time and now the younger guys in the team deserve to get the chance to face them. They should have the chance to taste what I sampled in 1997.

"Having the Australians in town is a huge game for us and potentially it could be the last time the tourists play a three-day game against county cricket opposition.

"They have a couple of two-day games butno more three-day stuff on this tour.

"If what you hear can be believed, in the future they will be playing representative sides and England A. Our game could yet go down in the history books.

"As a club we were all extremely disappointed to miss out on the Twenty20 Cup next weekend - the players wanted to be involvedinfinalsday.

"But as an added bonus we have the Aussies playing here.

"There is always a special buzz when they're in town - we expect to have full houses for everyday.

"The Australians love coming here. They play at Lord's for five days then come to us to play in the shadow of Worcester Cathedral.

"I truly hope they really enjoy their latest visit to New Road... just not too much!"