At a vintage when most players have already retired, the 38-year-old Australian captain shows no sign of slowing down.

His unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh was his 31st Test hundred and gave him a full set of centuries against every Test-playing nation, but Waugh said he still wants more.

"I'm still just trying to improve, just because you're a certain age doesn't mean you can't improve any more so for me it's about getting better," Waugh told a news conference.

"I just wanted to go out there and play well and if I don't think I can improve then I shouldn't be out there."

Waugh, now in his 18th year of Test cricket, briefly considered retiring after a lean run last season but says he has no thoughts of giving up now that he is back in form.

"I had a tough time last year but I overcame that...so I'm doing it for myself now more than anyone else," Waugh said.

"It is nice to overcome those tough times, every cricketer has them during their careers, and it's probably a little bit harder as you get older.

"But I'm just happy with the way I'm playing, I'm enjoying the game and being positive."

Waugh said he was proud of his feat of scoring a century against each of Australia's nine Test opponents but was not driven by records.

"Records and milestones will all be broken but it is still nice to achieve things and to score a hundred against every country is something I'm proud of."

AT A GLANCEFactbox on Australia captain Steve Waugh who scored a century against Bangladesh on Saturday to move into joint second place on the all-time list of Test century makers.

He also becomes only the second player to score Test centuries against all nine Test-playing opponents.

Born: June 2, 1965, Sydney. Right-hand bat, occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.

Test debut: v India, Melbourne, December 1985. Holds record for most Test match appearances with 161. 10,365 runs av 50.31. 91 wickets at 36.16.

Waugh is one of the most power ful and respected figures in the game, having led Australia to a world-record streak of 16 consecutive Test wins and guided Australia to World Cup victory in 1999.

He made his Test debut in December 1985, aged 20, and has been captain since 1999.

Prior to this week's Test against Bangladesh, Waugh had led Australia 49 times for 36 victories, a strike-rate unmatched by players who have captained in 15 or more matches.

He is currently tied with West Indian Clive Lloyd for most Test wins as captain. Lloyd's tally came from 74 matches.

Waugh has scored 31 centuries, equal second with Sachin Tendulkar and behind only Sunil Gavaskar (34).

Waugh is already the most capped player in Test cricket history with 161 appearances and is the second highest run-scorer of all time behind Australia's Allan Border (11,174).

Waugh has featured in many high-scoring partnerships including an unbroken 464 with his brother Mark for New South Wales in Perth in 1990-91 and another of 385 with Greg Blewett against South Africa in 1996-97.

Waugh also played 325 limited-overs internationals for Australia but lost his place in the team in February 2002.

Under pressure to retain his place in the Test side after a moderate run of form last year, Waugh has silenced his critics by scoring centuries in each of Australia's last three series.

MOST TEST TONSThe scorers of most centuries in Test cricket after Australian captain Steve Waugh's unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh in Darwin on Saturday:

Batsman Country 100s

Sunil Gavaskar India 34

Sachin Tendulkar India 31

Steve Waugh Australia 31

Don Bradman Australia 29

Allan Border Australia 29

Gary Sobers West Indies 26

Viv Richards West Indies 24

Greg Chappell Australia 24

Javed Miandad Pakistan 23

Geoff Boycott England 22