Waugh wants to help Test minnows

Cricket will always be in my blood and some day I will get back involved heavily Steve Waugh

Ex-Australia captain Steve Waugh says he wants to help struggling teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in the future.

Waugh, who scored nearly 11,000 Test runs and lost only nine of the 57 games he captained Australia in, is committed to the game's global expansion.

"I'm really interested in developing countries like Kenya, and Bangladesh or Zimbabwe," the 40-year-old said.

"Because if you don't do that then the game is going to struggle, so I think we need the resources in that area."

Waugh, who bowed out of Test cricket in January 2004 after the home series with India, says it is in the game's interest to ensure weaker nations become stronger.

Critics have suggested removing Test status from Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the wake of crushing defeats suffered by both teams in the past 12 months.

If we just focus on the top couple of teams people will get bored eventually Steve Waugh

But the former Australia skipper says something more constructive needs to be done to maintain the current surge in interest in the sport following the Ashes.

"You've got help countries like Zimbabwe, who are really struggling and aren't Test standard at the moment, get back on track," Waugh added.

"Bangladesh have got to keep developing and I think some of the African countries have got a lot of talent - Kenya, and some of the east African countries.

"We've got to focus on some of those countries.

"The other countries seem to be doing well but if we just focus on the top couple I think people will get bored with that eventually."