Published: Jul 21, 2013, 01:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 21, 2013, 01:36 PM (IST)
Darren Gough (above) said that David Warner should have been in Australia’s playing eleven © Getty Images
Gullane: Jul 21, 2013
Darren Gough, the former England fast-bowler is shocked by Australia’s performance in the ongoing Ashes. Gough believes that the Australian players are more concerned about their own performances and the selfish causes are hurting the team.
Speaking to Reuters, Gough said, “The way they batted was absolutely remarkable. Australia had bowled England out for 361 and they should have been all set to come out and dominate. When opener Shane Watson was out in the last over before lunch and reviewed it, that was a terrible decision by him. I think that’s the problem for Australia – they are more worried about their own personal performances than the team.”
Gough also cited captain Michael Clarke’s example, who reviewed both his dismissals in the first Test at Nottingham. He said, “Michael Clarke reviewed both his decisions in the first Test and they were wrong, Watson has also reviewed so many decisions in recent Test matches. It just goes to show they’re not using the review system well.”
In the first Test, number eleven Ashton Agar’s 98 in the first innings set up the game well and made it interesting, but Gough said that had that contribution not come, Australia would have gone down easily. Gough said, “If you take out the number 11’s (Ashton Agar) 98 not out in the Nottingham Test, they would have lost in three and a half days.”
The former England pacer is also surprised by Australia’s decision to send David Warner with the Australia A team and believes he should have batted at number three instead of Khawaja. He said, “Warner, for me, should be in the XI but for some reason he is with the A team. He should be batting at number three in this Test, he’s got aggression and has got a bit of fight in him. That’s what you want in your team. For some reason Khawaja’s playing and he’s not. I find that remarkable.”
Gough has played county cricket with current Australia coach Darren Lehmann. He praised Lehmann ans said that the Aussie coach has a task of bringing the team together.
