Ashes 2013: Australia batting embarrasses Jeff Thomson
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson admits he was "embarrassed" by his country's batting performance in the second Ashes Test loss at Lord's.
England won by 347 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
"I'm embarrassed. I hope like hell they can do something in Manchester," Thomson, 62, told BBC Radio 5 live.
"We just said it's the worst batting we've ever seen in our life. Then they turned around and did it in the second innings."
Australia were bowled out in their second innings for 235 late on the fourth day, after England had set them 583 to win by declaring on 349-7. They had earlier been dismissed for 128 in their first innings.
The visitors, who also lost a thrilling first Test by 14 runs on the final day at Trent Bridge, go into the third Test at Old Trafford, starting on 1 August, facing the prospect of a series defeat.
Thomson, who took 200 Test wickets before retiring in 1986, is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers to ever play Test cricket.
His bowling partnership with Dennis Lillee was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history.
He said: "I was impressed with the guys in the first game in Nottingham. I was proud. I thought these guys aren't that great but they're fighters. Then they came out at Lord's, and the bowlers did a fair job.
"I thought that was very good, then we're out in 50 overs. And the shots they played, I was so angry."
Former England skipper Mike Gatting says he has little sympathy for Australia's current plight.
"I can't feel sorry for them because we've had many beatings from them," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "Losing is very hard and they do tend to rub your nose in it, especially if you are in Australia."
The 56-year-old, who scored 4,409 runs in 79 Tests including 23 matches as captain, became the last England skipper for 18 years to lift the Ashes when he led them to victory in Australia in 1986-87.
He said it was important for England not to let up, adding: "They have to keep the foot on the Australian throat and make sure they don't get up."
Comments
Join the conversation
Bit pointless releasing another article saying the same thing every day.
24 hour news really has reduced the quality of articles. Every single quote is spun into 5 different articles all saying the same thing.
Biased DRS? Both sides had dodgy decisions, but England used their reviews much more wisely. And it isn't in the rules to walk, you wait for the umpires decision. Please note the Aussy players had no problem with Broad, only with the umpire's decision and their use of DRS.
Might I remind you of Agar's stumping and Trott's LBW? It all evens out in the end.
You could fill entire books about Aussie, erm, 'gamesmanship' (e.g. under arm bowling) & they have an open policy of handing out citizenship to sportsman that will sign up to play for them - check out the handball team.
It's all just desperate sour grapes.
What's more we would be doing the same in their position!
I was on the phone to an Aussie in Brisbane yesterday morning, business stuff. At the close of the call the guy said:
"Many thanks for your time, its been great speaking" (I reiterated)
Then he said:
"oh one more thing, a very special thanks for not mentioning the cricket" and slammed the phone down before I could get a word in.
Almost fell off my chair laughing.
Sore losers who simply aren't up to the present job... van't bat, can't bowl and fielding is abysmal..how do they expect to win anything playing the way they are?...
Engerland Engerland Engerland......
We are a multicultural country...so yes, we have people who have settled here from all round the world...just like your Pakistani spin bowler for instance. If you look at Rugby Union, Oz seemed o find a number of Tongan or Fiji or Western Samoan's in their team. My point? Give it a few years, and Australia too will have many nationals playing for them, especially if they continue to struggle
I agree with you about 20/20. This format of the game means that mediocre players can earn huge sums of money. The downside is players no longer know how to build an innings and bat for 40 - 50 overs as the game is long over and everyone has gone home!
The shorter forms of the game allow for luck to play a bigger part to the detriment of ability and skill.
The Aussies are the only cricket team who have not worked out how to use it.
Bad workmen… tools…etc
You have no idea. England does not have one player that isn't at least half English. There's a couple that speak with South African accents, a reflection of where they learned to communicate. The point is they chose England because they had the option.
Usman Khawaja plays for Australia by virtue of how long he's lived there. He doesn't have a drop of Aussie blood in him.
- England hold the Ashes & are walking this series
- Aus cricketing greats are embarrassed by the team
- Aus press, slamming the team, say it will get worse
Yet, the cherry on the icing on the cake is the childish, name calling, graceless conspiracy theorists on here who can't handle it:
- Whaa DRS
- Whaa Broad
- Whaa foreign players
Call the Whambulance.....
PERFECT!
Michael Kasprowicz born in Brisbane
Simon Katich born in country WA
Andrew Symonds born in Birmingham moved here when 3 months old,
@165 What? I didn't start anything about race lol. Deluded.
Honestly, occasionally it's good chatting here....occasionally!