Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Srinath: Would have banned Ganguly for making Waugh wait
A long time ago, India and Australia played a famous cricket series.
The captain of India was Sourav Ganguly.
The captain of Australia was Steve Waugh.
Before the coin toss, Ganguly would make Waugh wait.
Waugh did not like waiting and said it annoyed him.
Ganguly has also shared his side of the story.
A former fast bowler named Javagal Srinath talked about this memory.
Srinath is now a referee for international cricket matches.
He said if he had been the referee back then, he would have banned Ganguly for a few games.
It is a story about old cricket memories and how different people see them.
Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath said he would have banned Sourav Ganguly for a few games if he had been match referee during the 2001 India-Australia Test series.
The comments relate to Ganguly making Australia captain Steve Waugh wait at the toss during that iconic series.
Waugh has said several times that the delay annoyed him, while Ganguly has recently given his side of the story.
Srinath played only the first Test of the 2001 series due to injury and sat out the rest of the matches.
Srinath, an ICC match referee since retiring in 2003, made the remarks at an event in Chennai.
- Who
- Javagal Srinath, former India fast bowler and ICC match referee, speaking about Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh.
- What
- Srinath said he would have banned Ganguly for a few games for making Waugh wait at the toss during the 2001 Test series.
- When
- The remarks were made at a recent event in Chennai; the Test series took place in 2001.
- Where
- Chennai, India, where the event was held; the series was played between India and Australia.
- Why
- Because Srinath believed the conduct of delaying Waugh at the toss merited a suspension.
Ganguly's view
Waugh and Srinath's view
Toss delay conduct
Ganguly's view
Ganguly has recently shared his side of the story, suggesting his actions at the toss were defensible.
Waugh and Srinath's view
Waugh has repeatedly said the delay annoyed him, and Srinath believes it was serious enough to warrant a ban.
- Speaker
- Javagal Srinath
- Speaker's role
- Former India fast bowler, ICC match referee since 2003
- Subject
- Sourav Ganguly making Steve Waugh wait at the toss
- Series
- 2001 India-Australia Test series
- Srinath's participation
- Played only the first Test due to injury
- Proposed action
- Ban Ganguly for a few games
- Event location
- Chennai