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Produce proof or keep quiet, says Steve Waugh

Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh on Wednesday called for anyone making allegations about match-fixing and bribery to provide concrete proof or keep quiet.

He was responding to claims made by former Australian Test spinner Ashley Mallett that the Test match played between South Africa in Australia in Sydney in 1998 may have been fixed by the South Africans.

"I was quite astounded by these allegations but if he (Mallett) has got evidence to suggest otherwise he should bring it forward. If not, he shouldn't be making those comments," Waugh said.

Mallet, who was employed as an advisor to the South African squad during its 1997-98 tour of Australia, said he was suspicious about South African team selections and questioned the bowling tactics of the tourists during the match.

Mallett said he voiced his concerns with South African cricket chief Ali Bacher.

Waugh refuted the claims. "If that was cricket that wasn't played at 100 per cent, then I'm a real bad judge," he said.

"I know after that game I had sore ribs, a sore wrist and sore legs from the battering that Allan Donald gave me."

The match was Waugh's 100th Test, with the middle order batsman scoring 85 in Australia's first innings total of 421.

Shane Warne took his 300th wicket in the match as the Australians eventually routed South Africa by an innings and 21 runs.

Despite South Africa's sudden collapse, Waugh believed the latest allegation was ill-founded.

"Let's get the concrete proof and then we can make some comments. Up 'til then I think people should keep quiet."

Waugh also scotched allegations attributed to former Pakistan captain Salim Malik that Australia and Pakistan both took bribes to lose a match in 1994.

Malik did not reveal which match was allegedly fixed but it was Australia's unexpected victory in the first game of the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka that most raised eyebrows.

"Salim said he was innocent of all charges a couple of years ago and if he's found guilty of recent charges then I don't think his word is something you can hang on to," Waugh said.

"All I can say is that I'm as certain as I can be that no Australian has ever been involved in match-fixing or bribery. I've said it before and I'll stick by it."