By IANS,
Sydney : Australia are on the verge losing the home Ashes for the first time in 24 years and blame for the team’s debacle should go to the selectors, feels former England captain Geoffrey Boycott.
Another innings defeat for Australia looked imminent as they were languishing at 213 for seven in the second innings, needing another 151 runs to come level with England’s mammoth first innings score of 644 in the fifth and the final Test match here.
Boycott said Australia’s selectors played a big role in undermining the performance of the team, which has already lost the Ashes Urn and is trailing 1-2 in the series.
“To be blunt, I could not see Australia being as bad as they have been in every department,” Boycott told the ABC.
“Starting with your selectors, they have made a right mess of everything they have done. I am a great believer in leadership. It starts from the top,” the former England captain siad.
“Your selection process and what you have done with some of your players, it filters through from the top, whatever you do.”
“Throwing (Nathan) Hauritz away at the last minute…If you were not going to pick him, throw him away beforehand and pick the guy who is going to play in this series as your spinner.”
“(Doug) Bollinger’s been your main leading wicket-taker for 12 months, okay he got an injury. But he wants to play a second warm-up match to be ready for Brisbane, you stop him because you want him to be rested and then you do not pick him.”
“Christ, he must think what the hell is going on?”
“It was just confusing and from then on it just got worse, didn’t it?” Boycott noted.
Boycott believes Australia’s failure to consistently make big scores as another reason for their downfall. In contrast, England went past 500 runs four times in the series.
“I have always believed batsmen put you in a position to win then bowlers win the match, they take 20 wickets.”
“Your problem is you do not make enough runs.”
“This series you have not made enough runs. So, therefore, whatever bowling attack you have, you are not in a position to win games, simple as that,” he said.