Steve Waugh thinks Australia made a mistake by not choosing Todd Murphy.©AFP
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh slammed management for taking off-spinner Todd Murphy out of the playing eleven for the fourth Ashes Test at Manchester’s Old Trafford. Murphy, replacing the injured Nathan Lyon for the third Test at Leeds, struggled to take wickets as England cut the deficit to 1–2 in the five-match running series. While England looked for an equalizer in the series in Manchester, Australia entered the match with an all-encompassing pace attack. However, Waugh believes Australia made a mistake by not choosing Murphy.
“I usually disagree. I think it’s a mistake, especially in Manchester where the ball is spinning. I know they probably look at the forecast and say there’s a bit of rain, but you need variety in attack. Especially with the way England are playing,” Waugh, who played 168 Tests for Australia, told SENQ Breakfast.
Waugh believes that if Australia don’t score enough points, England could level the series in Manchester.
“They go very hard to the bowlers and we have four right arm fast bowlers so our attack is a bit the same. But if the wicket is quite flat and we don’t have too much up my sleeve I think England will probably like the sight of the four right arm fast bowlers,” he added.
On Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test, Chris Woakes led the England attack 4-52 in 18.5 overs as Broad took 2-68 in 14 en route to a milestone 600 Test wickets.
At Stumps on Day 1, Australia were 299/8 after Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh made 51 each.
England have won 13 of their last 16 Tests at Old Trafford, but have not achieved an Ashes victory at the Manchester ground since Ian Botham achieved a celebrated hundred in 1981.
(with AFP inputs)
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