BRISBANE (Reuters)
Steve Waugh said Australia would not have deserved to lose the drawn first Test against New Zealand after their sporting declaration, adding he would not change his attacking tactics in future.

Australia lost the fourth Ashes Test to England after stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist made another generous declaration, and they almost suffered a similar fate on Monday when New Zealand made 274 for 6 off 57 overs after Waugh set them a target of 284 for victory.

Waugh said: "I'm happy we got a draw out of a tough match. We worked hard in the last 10 overs, we were desperate and we deserved to get a draw.

"Realistically, I thought we were the only team with a chance of winning today but the way they batted they gave themselves a chance and it was good for cricket."

Waugh stuck by his ambitious approach, which was also praised by rival captain Stephen Fleming.

"You may as well try and get a result out of the game and we really thought we could bowl New Zealand out with a good run-chase," Waugh said.

"I was always going to try and force a result even before New Zealand declared."

There had seemed little hope of a result at the commencement of play after heavy rain disrupted the three previous days but Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming set up the prospect of a close finish when he declared New Zealand's first innings as soon as they reached 287 for 8 to avoid the follow-on.

The Australians, leading by 199 after amassing 486 for 9 in their first innings, then responded with 84 for 2 off just 14 overs before Waugh made his declaration less than an hour after lunch to give both teams a chance of winning.

Waugh went on: "There were moments there when New Zealand probably thought they could have won the game but I thought we were a chance of winning the game as well up until the last few overs."

He said the turning point came in the third last over when Ricky Ponting caught Chris Cairns on the boundary. Cairns had smashed 43 off 38 balls to put his side within sight of victory.

"We played some pretty good cricket. Realistically, if it didn't rain, we would have won the game. But games can turn on little things. If that went for six, they would have won."

Asked about Brett Lee, who won the Man of the Match award after scoring 61 and taking six wickets, Waugh was full of enthusiasm.

"He came into the game under a bit of pressure after England," Waugh said. "There were a few people doubting whether he should have been there."

"But I thought he bowled very well, he bowled quick, he bowled outswing, batted well and his enthusiasm in the field's always great for the side."

Waugh predicted Lee would emerge as an even better player after his experiences in England. Lee enjoyed a meteoric start to his international career, capturing 42 wickets from his first seven Tests, but came back to earth with a thud when he took just nine Ashes wickets at an average of 55.

There were, however, extenuating circumstances. Lee broke down during last summer's series against the West Indies with a stress fracture and only passed a fitness test just before the Ashes.

In his first match back on home soil, Lee belted 61 with the bat, one run short of his Test best, then claimed 5 for 67 in New Zealand's first innings.

He bowled without luck in the second, shattering Mark Richardson's stumps with a no-ball, but returned to snare the vital wicket of Chris Cairns when he was threatening to win the match.

"He's a fantastic player to have in the side when he's playing well and his confidence is back up and he's in for a big season," Waugh said.

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