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Craig HillSteve Waugh Sees A Stronger England Team
January 11th 2009 09:16
Former nemesis Steve Waugh has joined in the debate on English cricket's week of crisis which culminated in Andrew Strauss being named captain for the entire Caribbean tour.
Australian great Waugh believes the furore which led to Kevin Pietersen's resignation and the removal of Peter Moores as coach can actually strengthen England in an Ashes year.
Strauss, 31, will return to one-day limited-overs action after a two-year absence as captain in March.
But the priority now is to build bridges before the squad's departure on January 21 - following the breakdown of captain-coach relationship and revelations of dressing room disharmony.
"I don't see this as an issue that's going to split the side and make them perform poorly," said Waugh, speaking on www.laureus.com.
"I think, if anything, it may have the ability to make the team a bit stronger."
"I think they took it too far and possibly the power got to the leader's head because, you know, surely these things can be worked out behind the scenes and it doesn't have to be played out in public."
"You know, my big saying as a captain was 'praise in public' and if you're going to criticise, do it in private."
There is clearly work to do to integrate Pietersen, the side's star turn, back into the fold.
But Waugh insisted: "I think players just get on with the job."
"They're pretty hard nosed and they're pretty thick skinned and they're used to a lot of these distractions around the team and now they'll get on with playing cricket and they'll embrace him as a great, great batsman, which he is and I think it will be pretty soon forgotten."
"Right now it seems a big issue that I think once you get on a cricket field again and you've got a new captain, a new coach and a new and different direction, then players will get on with playing Test match cricket."
The England and Wales Cricket Board took the decision to put Strauss in total charge after resisting appointing an interim coach for the trip.
Assistant coach Andy Flower, team operations manager Phil Neale, and Hugh Morris, managing director England cricket, will provide support.
"The selectors feel that it is important to have stability and continuity on the Caribbean tour given the events of the last few days," said national selector Geoff Miller.
"Andrew and I have also agreed that we will review the one-day captaincy at the end of the tour. Andrew is extremely comfortable with that."
Strauss was not a member of the original party to stay on after the four-Test series, having fallen from favour in recent years.
He last played for England in one-day colours back in April 2007, in fact, ironically against West Indies, in what was Duncan Fletcher's last match in charge.
Moores, meanwhile, broke his silence on the week's events via a statement from his solicitors Harbottle & Lewis.
His legal team remains engaged with counterparts from the ECB following his dismissal from a rolling contract as England coach - a move which would effectively cost Lord's coffers his annual salary.
But the possibility of Moores, highly-rated following his stint setting up the ECB's national academy, being re-engaged in the England cricket structure cannot be ruled out.
"It is with great sadness that I was told earlier this week that I have been removed from my role as England team director," he admitted.
"All I would like to say is that I am extremely proud to have coached my country."
"I remain a passionate Englishman and a huge supporter of the England cricket team."
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of the players and coaching staff the very best for the forthcoming series in the West Indies and for the challenges ahead."
Australian great Waugh believes the furore which led to Kevin Pietersen's resignation and the removal of Peter Moores as coach can actually strengthen England in an Ashes year.
Strauss, 31, will return to one-day limited-overs action after a two-year absence as captain in March.
But the priority now is to build bridges before the squad's departure on January 21 - following the breakdown of captain-coach relationship and revelations of dressing room disharmony.
"I don't see this as an issue that's going to split the side and make them perform poorly," said Waugh, speaking on www.laureus.com.
"I think, if anything, it may have the ability to make the team a bit stronger."
"I think they took it too far and possibly the power got to the leader's head because, you know, surely these things can be worked out behind the scenes and it doesn't have to be played out in public."
"You know, my big saying as a captain was 'praise in public' and if you're going to criticise, do it in private."
There is clearly work to do to integrate Pietersen, the side's star turn, back into the fold.
But Waugh insisted: "I think players just get on with the job."
"They're pretty hard nosed and they're pretty thick skinned and they're used to a lot of these distractions around the team and now they'll get on with playing cricket and they'll embrace him as a great, great batsman, which he is and I think it will be pretty soon forgotten."
"Right now it seems a big issue that I think once you get on a cricket field again and you've got a new captain, a new coach and a new and different direction, then players will get on with playing Test match cricket."
The England and Wales Cricket Board took the decision to put Strauss in total charge after resisting appointing an interim coach for the trip.
Assistant coach Andy Flower, team operations manager Phil Neale, and Hugh Morris, managing director England cricket, will provide support.
"The selectors feel that it is important to have stability and continuity on the Caribbean tour given the events of the last few days," said national selector Geoff Miller.
"Andrew and I have also agreed that we will review the one-day captaincy at the end of the tour. Andrew is extremely comfortable with that."
Strauss was not a member of the original party to stay on after the four-Test series, having fallen from favour in recent years.
He last played for England in one-day colours back in April 2007, in fact, ironically against West Indies, in what was Duncan Fletcher's last match in charge.
Moores, meanwhile, broke his silence on the week's events via a statement from his solicitors Harbottle & Lewis.
His legal team remains engaged with counterparts from the ECB following his dismissal from a rolling contract as England coach - a move which would effectively cost Lord's coffers his annual salary.
But the possibility of Moores, highly-rated following his stint setting up the ECB's national academy, being re-engaged in the England cricket structure cannot be ruled out.
"It is with great sadness that I was told earlier this week that I have been removed from my role as England team director," he admitted.
"All I would like to say is that I am extremely proud to have coached my country."
"I remain a passionate Englishman and a huge supporter of the England cricket team."
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of the players and coaching staff the very best for the forthcoming series in the West Indies and for the challenges ahead."
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