England need to be ruthless to become top Test side: Warne
By IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
LONDON - Former Australian spin king Shane Warne feels England need to be more ruthless to tip the likes of India and South Africa to be the world’s best Test side.
Andrew Strauss last week became the first England captain to retain the Ashes in 24 years with an innings win over Australia in the Melbourne Test. The tourists had an unbeatable 2-1 lead heading into the fifth and final Test which began Monday.
“England also need to be more ruthless because they could have beaten Australia in Melbourne quicker if they had put their foot down and scored fast runs on the third morning when Matt Prior and Jonathan Trott were batting. They need to boss the opposition more. Remember, the best teams up the ante when they are on top,” Warne wrote in his column in the Sunday Telegraph.
But Warne feels Strauss needs to be tactically stronger to take his side to the top slot.
“In Strauss they have a captain who is a leader of men and a wonderful spokesman for the team.
“He is a good citizen, but I still think he misses a lot tactically and he has to get better for the team to reach No 1,” he said.
