Out Of My Comfort Zone - Steve Waugh

...He may not have stood out from the crowd in the same way as a dashing Viv Richards, Ian Botham or Shane Warne to name a few, but Steve Waugh is one of the all time greats of cricket. Watching him play you always got a sense of his admirable grit and determination while he left me with the impression that he was very similar in character to another Aussie legend, Allan Border; dour, utterly dismissive of the old enemy (us poms) and not exactly a barrel ...
...out of the sky like a Warne 'ripper' pitching outside leg and clattering off stump.


8oo pages of autobiography seems fitting for a batsman who, from the outside at least, conjured up images of a 'stayer' at the crease. The thickness of the book itself almost deterred me from choosing it but seeing Amir Kahn's featherweight effort nestled nearby made me think that Waugh's literary outing was worth a chance. As another ciao member, ... more

Cricket is often regarded as dull and rather soft by many who see football and rugby alone as being ' man's games '. This could be typified in that both Steve Waugh and twin brother Mark were simultaneously flattened when failing miserably to stop Australian rugby league star Mal Meninga scoring a 'try'... ...in a pub, using two bar stools as posts and a beer can as a ball. Funnily enough, though, you won't see a cricketer missing a game with a broken metatarsal or sometimes even a groin strain, broken nose or finger - well not in Waugh's era anyway. He may not have stood out from the crowd in the same way as a dashing Viv Richards, Ian Botham or Shane Warne to name a few, but Steve Waugh is one of the all time greats of cricket. Watching him play you always got a sense of his admirable grit and determination while he left me with the impression that he was very similar in character to another Aussie legend, Allan Border; dour, utterly dismissive of the old enemy (us poms) and not exactly a barrel of laughs. Out Of My Comfort Zone blows this misconception out of the sky like a Warne 'ripper' pitching outside leg and clattering off stump.

8oo pages of autobiography seems fitting for a batsman who, from the outside at least, conjured up images of a 'stayer' at the crease. The thickness of the book itself almost deterred me from choosing it but seeing Amir Kahn's featherweight effort nestled nearby made me think that Waugh's literary outing was worth a chance. As another ciao member, tractor boy, alluded to in his review on footballer 'John Wark', so many autobiographies are written by sportsmen who have not even reached the pinnacle of their careers. I completely agree. Luckily, Waugh is one of the notable exceptions who covers everything in this substantial tome, from childhood through to his retirement from the game. To justify such length and a hefty price tag, the book had to be something special. It is and I doubt something more slimline would have been half as memorable. Much like a Pietersen innings however, it gets off to an ordinary start before flourishing as the rythmn of the narrative and the interest of the subject gathers momentum. Though unlike a Pietersen innings, it does not come to a dramatically sudden conclusion but instead runs its true course and feels complete.

Like many top sportsmen, Waugh was a very intense cricketer. Some are blessed with a talent and charisma which transcends the arena in which they excel. Pietersen is, potentially at least, a typical example. Personally, its the mavericks of sport with that aura of something special who tend to get the juices flowing - Horse racing's Kieren Fallon or Lester Piggott, snooker's Alex Higgins or Jimmy White. There is a sense that there is more to these people than meet the eye, while at the other end of the scale there lies those who are widely adored but whose admittedly undoubted talents are disproportionate to their public adulation, David Beckham and Frankie Dettori being two names that immediately spring to mind. Waugh seems to be placed in the the middle of this spectrum of opinion. Snooker player Cliff Thorburn is of a similar ilk with regard to outside perception but as with the Canadian's surprisingly enjoyable autobiography Playing For Keeps, Waugh's Out Of My Comfort Zone reveals both a man (and in Waugh's case) a cricketing heavyweight with far more to say than a cursory glance would have us believe. This is a figure whose record speaks for itself - an average greater than fifty at Test level over a long career, against many of the great bowlers at a time when a record greater than forty was generally regarded as world class. Right I'll put my anorak away again now..

It could all have been a marathon read, to be completed only with the sort of dedication that drove 'Tugga' himself but this has been one of those rare factual books which I have found hard to put down. It far surpasses the autobiographies of Allan Lamb's Lambs Tales and Viv Richards' Hitting Across The Line, both of which were enlightening but lacked depth in comparison. This is something to behold for me as these two were players of whom I was, and remain, a big fan. Where they come second best is in Waugh's ability to create a complete and well balanced picture of his life on and off the field, with the 800 pages crucially allowing him to selflessly give genuine insight in to a myriad of other players and acquaintances. No other biography that I have read has come close to allotting so many words to such a quantity of other figures in the 'story' which is a real boon here (no pun intended) as it adds flesh, not flab, to the book. Waugh is fair in his appraisal of these people as well, not holding back on his disdain of figures like Pakistani batsman Salim Malik or his hard earned admiration of players like Curtly Ambrose, even if he did tell the huge West Indian pace bowler 'to go f*** himself', while staring him out. To do this while batting against 'Amby' on a West Indian strip shows characteristic guts but, as is common for the book, Waugh honestly admits the confrontation was bourne out of his own determination to face intimidation through necessity; as opposed to some superhuman self-confidence or personal animosity. With an endearing wit he thanks 'the man above' that Windies captain, Richie Richardson, led his bowler away before matters went too far - as Waugh was in no doubt he'd have been the loser. Other protagonists also receive due praise from the Aussie in a manner which manages to be both objective as a cricketing professional but also, at times, endowed with a less clinical and more human touch. A prime example is England's Jack Russell, 'the finest wicketkeeper I ever saw' a quote which precedes a glowing and affectionate passage complimenting the man's personal eccentricities. Meanwhile, his thoughts on Hick's under achievement at international level are carefully considered and full of compassion.

Of course, it is his Aussie team mates over the years that receive most of the attention because these are the people with whom Waugh spent much of his time. A vibrant, well rounded and comprehensive picture is established which depicts the story of Australian cricket through the many years in which Waugh was involved. This is interesting stuff, for Waugh gets the balance right between introspection at his own performances and character, and those of his comrades. One notable achievement is his ability to dispel myths held by armchair pundits like myself with regard to certain well known figures, an attribute which helped me to read just one more page before I had to get on with more mundane matters. He also manages to comment on the separate sporting and social facets of his time as an Australian cricketer in such a way that blends these two aspects seamlessly. Again, this certainly helps to maintain the readers' attention during this marathon text. Coupled with this is the fact that Waugh is a thinker; confident in his own opinions who, for the most part at least, likes to say it 'as it is' when the need arises. His observations are intelligent and while he very occasionally lapses in to too much reflection for the casual reader, his status as a dark horse soon rescues the passage with his sense of humour and timely self-deprecation. As a consequence, you don't often get too bogged down with the technicalities of the game.

That is not to say that Waugh is overtly modest. His achievements are related with an honesty which exudes pride but falls short of arrogance. In fact, the way he deals with his own perceived weaknesses as a man is even more candid. It is to his credit that he is frank about both his feats and insecurities, as too much overt humility could have been hard to stomach. This is in fact where one of the minor flaws lies. There is no doubt that the Australians were 'a tight bunch' and loyalty to each other was one of the many reasons why they climbed from the doldrums to a new pre-eminence under captains Border, Taylor and Waugh himself. But sometimes the latter goes a little too far in his sentimentality with regard to certain episodes. One example being during his role as vice-captain when he had to tell good friend Ian Healy that his one day career was basically over because he had been dropped from the side. There was no doubt that his feelings of regret were genuine at having to break this news but he goes a little overboard which would be surprising to those of us with less than a passing acquaintance to the usually economical Aussie. To read well intentioned but comparatively over emotional passages like this, did not sit as comfortably with me as they might have done had he chosen a different wording. The examples of dramatic melancholy - while understandable - are fortunately rare and mainly confined to dealing with the hardship of separation from his wife and young children whilst playing overseas.

The reader is exposed to the tortures Waugh experienced as a perfectionist; a man whose determination to harvest the fruits of his raw talents is almost obsessive. This is both a strength and a potential weakness for the book. The point of an autobiography is to reveal what made the person who they are, particularly in relation to that which made them exceptional. 'Tugga' leaves no stone unturned in in terms of his preparation and thoughts regarding his own performances as a cricketer. While this is poignant and fully justified, it turns out that the self examination does not actually provide the most interesting passages in the book. Where he excels is in the paragraphs that deliver his perspective on certain incidents and issues but also incorporates other relevant parties - which leads us on to his charity work. Almost every autobiography tries to promote some sort of unselfish self worth and Waugh is no exception. His admiration for Mother Teresa appears as slightly cliched in its wording which is unfortunate as again you feel that his emotions are genuine. His work with Indian children affected by poverty and sickness in the Udayan project is fascinating however and I was not left in any doubt that the steely Aussie truly does have a deep-seated and committed empathy for the underprivileged. This is where he scores again in this autobiography. To many, such as team mate Paul Reiffel, touring was about hotel room service, social gatherings and playing cricket. For Waugh there was much more to other countries; he loved to emmerse himself in the cultures away from cricket and the formality of meeting dignitaries whenever possible. Often breaking tour party embargos, he would visit areas off the beaten track and his reflections of these experiences make for an enjoyable, humurous and frequently touching read.

To use a phrase so often quoted by sportsmen and women these days, 'a lot of positives can be taken' from this book. The text is well written and the narrative very easy to follow, yet it is not simplistic and lifeless. Whether this is down to Waugh or co-author Michael Jones is neither here nor there as this clarity does not diminish the feeling that the Aussie batsman is talking to the reader. With a sensible and straightforward chronology to events, all appropriately compartmentalised, this is a very accessible autobiography. To add a final layer of icing on the cake is the photography. Not only are there an abundance of predominantly colour photographs included, but they are all pertinent to certain key points or incidents in the accompanying text; not only in the images they depict but in their placement within the book. I have not seen such thought put in to the addition of visual material in any biography before. They really do add the final touches to the narrative to create a comprehensive account - something that is without doubt aided by Waugh's own competence and enthusiasm as an amateur photographer.

So many vocal people in all aspects of life tend to be a disappointment when you scratch beneath the surface; the loud mouthed bluster often revealing someone with little to say or offer that is actually of interest or merit. The seemingly uncommunicative Waugh seen on television sets demoralising opposing teams (and some interviewers no doubt), proves to be rather mischievous and humurous which is a side he only reveals to us as readers. It is a welcome distraction from his successes in portraying the more serious issues arising from the roller coaster of emotions of top class sport. But it can't be denied that his passion for cricket and his country is inspirational reading, though it would take a far less cynical man than myself to use the book as a life changing mantra. At one point, while reading about an innings he played where he had to dig deep (due to a monstrous hangover and torn groin) I was inspired to think about facing my own minor demon and really giving up the fags... ..Ten minutes later I was leaning out of the bathroom window gleefully blowing blue smoke in to the night air. That says far more about my lack of discipline than the book, as Waugh's 'work hard, play hard' ethic is quite infectious and the results there for all to see. As someone both very loyal to his colleagues and generous to give praise when its merited, yet an independent thinker and his own man, there are far worse candidates as a role model to the younger generation. This biography achieved what it set out to do at the start of the innings - it gave me a far broader insight in to Steve Waugh with the added bonus of thoughful, honest reflections on other household names he knew intimately. By stumps I had also been further educated on the world of cricket in general and also much of what lies beyond. It won't necessarily do me any good mind you, but it was an entertaining education all the same!

You will need time to read this obviously but despite its detail it is a book that can be picked up without requiring too much backtracking. I doubt any non cricket fan would be tempted to read Out Of My Comfort Zone, let alone be moved by it, despite the off field references; but that is the nature of the beast. If you don't like cricket, well, you don't like cricket. At prices ranging from £15 to £27 I can only recommend this to a die hard, though I'd try the library first. For a comprehensive and an all encompassing insight, this is the best sporting autobiography I have read by some distance. He's even fair about us poms... ..most of the time.

DETAILS

Author

-Steve Waugh (& Michael Joseph)

Publisher

-Penguin Group 2005 (with a 2006 reprint)

Format

-800 pages
-Interspersed with numerous groups of high quality photographs
-Forewords by Rahul Dravid and Tim May (both well written)
-Extra chapter from wife, Lynette Waugh
-20 pages of exhaustive career records
-A general index.

Price

-£25 upwards new for the hardback (available new and used on Amazon in both hard and softback at various prices)

© OnTheChin 2009 

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