Waugh twins to play 100th Test together

Cricket's most famous twins, Steve and Mark Waugh, will celebrate another century partnership on Friday when Australia play South Africa in the first of three Tests.

The two brothers have featured in so many memorable batting partnerships over the years that they have lost count of their achievements, but this week is special, and unique, because it will be their 100th Test together.

Only 41 sets of brothers have played at least one Test match together and, of those, only the Waughs are twins.

Their 100 Tests together is far and away the most by two brothers, almost double the next best of 54 by the Zimbabwean siblings Andy and Grant Flower.

Typically, the Waughs were not even aware of the milestone until told by journalists this week.

"It's very surprising. I would have thought we'd only have played about 60 or 70 but time does fly," said Steve, the older of the two by three minutes.

"But we don't want to get too carried away about it at the moment but later on when we retire and look back on it, it will be significant.

"It's really just nice for the family, for mum and dad -- all the sacrifices they made with us growing up."

LONG ODDS

Australia's leading bookmaking firm, CentreBet, told Reuters that the odds on twins playing 100 Tests together are so remote that any prospective punter could have picked their own price.

Even more astonishing is the manner in which the pair's careers have unfolded. Steve, now Australian captain, is playing his 143rd Test while Mark is up to his 120th.

Steve made his Test debut against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1985-86 but Mark had to wait another six years for his call-up.

Mark finally made his debut against England at the Adelaide Oval in 1990-91, marking the occasion with a majestic 138, but it was a bittersweet moment as he had been promoted to the national side at the expense of his brother.

Steve missed the next four matches but was recalled to the team for the third Test in the West Indies two months later.

Steve is now the third-highest run scorer in history with 9,364, Mark is 11th with 7,651. Steve has 27 Test hundreds, Mark 20.

They have made nine Test partnerships of 100 or more, including a 197-run stand in the fifth Ashes Test against England this year when both made centuries.

Their highest Test partnership was their 231-run fourth-wicket stand to clinch Australia's first win in the West Indies in 22 years in the deciding fourth Test at Kingston in May 1995, when Steve made 200 and Mark 126 to set up an innings victory.

Their best first-class partnership was an unbeaten 464 for New South Wales against Western Australia 11 years ago - the highest partnership ever in the long history of the Sheffield Shield.

Not everything has been smooth sailing of course. Mark was fined for admitting accepting money from an illegal Indian bookmaker in exchange for information on pitch and weather conditions.

And despite being twins, who by folklore are supposed to have a telepathic understanding, their early internationals together were marked by a series of infamous run outs, including one which left Steve stranded on 99.

But all that is behind them now as they celebrate another century partnership in one of cricket's most enduring family tales.

Mail Cricket Editor