Waugh attacks England
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England's leading cricket players lack toughness and the hunger to succeed and do not combine well as a team, according to Mark Waugh, the Australian batsman. In comments likely to inflame old rivalries in the upcoming Ashes tour, Waugh predicted Australia would exploit those weaknesses to record an easy win in the six-Test series.
"I look at the England team on paper and think they are good players, but they aren't tough enough or hungry enough on the field," said Waugh in an interview in an Australian magazine published yesterday.
"They don't play as a team, they worry about themselves. When you're out there, you don't feel you've got 11 guys against you," Waugh added. "Man for man they are not that far behind us, but they lack hunger."
Waugh, a veteran of 63 Tests, said England miss a quality spinner, dismissing Phil Tufnell as a threat. "Off-spinner Robert Croft is probably the best - I rate him highly. Phil Tufnell is back in the fray but I don't see him as a danger. I see him as a fairly weak sort of player who relies on you to make a mistake. He's not going to get you out."
But there was praise for one English cricketer - Yorkshire's Darren Gough. "He's always trying 100 per cent, having a go, trying a bumper, a slower ball. If he starts bowling well, he's a dangerous man because he can lift the rest of the team."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments