Waugh’s Ashes warning to under-performing senior Oz stars
By ANIFriday, October 29, 2010
SYDNEY - Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has warned the national team’s under-performing senior players that they could not count on experience alone to keep their places in next month’s Ashes series.
Waugh said that the selectors should not fear axing some experienced players to strengthen the struggling national line-up.
“I don’t see why. Just because it’s an Ashes series doesn’t make it any different from any other series. You’ve got to put your best 11 players on the park irrespective of age or experience,” the Age quoted Waugh, as saying.
“I’m never a big believer of picking players by age, it’s more the passion, your form and whether you’re the right person for the job,” he added.
The Australian team on the recent tour of India included three batsmen beyond the age of 35 - Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and Mike Hussey.
Younger members Marcus North (31) Michael Clarke (29) and Shane Watson (29) were also hardly youngsters.
After the 2-0 series defeat, Australia has slipped to fifth position in the ICC Test Championship rankings, its lowest ranking since the rankings were introduced in 2003.
Australia will have a chance to regain its fourth position when it goes head to head with fourth-placed England in a five-Test Ashes series, which starts in Brisbane on 25 November. (ANI)
