Sydney, July 13 (ANI): Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh believes that incumbent skipper Ricky Ponting has taken time to mature into the role and could be the best yet. He also insists that there are two factors that have sharpened him from the rather blunt blade that failed to cut the mustard four years ago - namely fatherhood and moulding his own side.

The birth of Waugh's own daughter 13 years ago proved the catalyst that gave the former skipper the perspective needed to start improving as a captain.

"Becoming a parent was the key for me. It gave me the ability to stop thinking about cricket 24-7 and that's important. It changes a lot of things in your life and maybe that was what changed Ricky's captaincy, becoming a father," the Daily Express quoted Waugh, as saying.

"You see things from a different perspective. It's not so much about your self anymore. You have to look after your own family and your kids and you see things differently," he added.

Waugh said he became involved with an orphanage in Calcutta called Udayan that helped girls with leprosy.

And following the birth of Ponting's first daughter, Emmy Charlotte in July last year, Waugh detected a similar shift in Ponting's focus.

"It may be because it also coincided with the fact that he has had to build a team from some new guys. In some ways he has probably appreciated having some young guys in there who he can influence. It is easier when you have a team you can mould, rather than experienced players," Waugh said.

"Everyone in a position of leadership is going to get criticism. People will always have opinions. But you just have to look in the mirror and work out whether you are doing the best job you could possibly be doing.

Most importantly, you have to realise you are never going to please everyone," Waugh said. (ANI)