Former England bowler Matthew Hoggard speaks out against Australia’s decision to send home four players from their tour of India.
Matthew Hoggard, one of the key players in England’s 2005 Ashes victory, has described the decision by Australia to send home players including vice-captain Shane Watson as “unbelievable.”
“To punish players to not being able to produce a PowerPoint presentation is baffling,” Hoggard told the BBC.
These comments from the former England swing bowler come in the wake of Australia sending home four players after they failed to make presentations in the build-up to the third Test against India.
As well as Watson, pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson have been sent home, as well as Usman Khawaja. The decision has led Watson to announce he is considering his future in cricket, despite being just 31.
The quartet of axed players have made over 100 Test appearances between them, with Watson and Johnson both highly experienced in the five-day game.
Hoggard, who is now captain of Leicestershire and took 248 Test wickets, went on to state that failing to perform a presentation is not a “disciplinary matter.”
“When you are a sportsman you play sport for a reason. Academic studies are not that important,” the 36-year-old said to the BBC.
“I know Shane Watson and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Getting him to write things out and put them in front of the coach is not going to be his strong point.”
Australia have played poorly so far during their tour of India, losing the first Test by eight wickets and doing even worse in the second, falling to defeat by an innings and 135 runs.
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