'England injuries their own fault': Waugh

Australian captain Steve Waugh says England have only themselves to blame for their mounting injury toll.

Waugh told a news conference on Wednesday that England's decision to select players who were not fit at the start of the tour was a gamble that went wrong.

"They picked some guys that weren't fit so in some ways they've made their own bed there," Waugh said on the eve of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide starting on Thursday.

"If you pick players that aren't fit at the start of the tour then you're taking a gamble."

England's hopes of winning the Ashes were left in tatters after left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff were ruled out of the second Test.

Giles broke his wrist in a freak training accident on Tuesday while Flintoff is still struggling to recover from a groin operation he underwent before the tour.

Fast bowler Darren Gough was sent home without playing a match because of complications with a long-term knee injury while paceman Simon Jones is out of the rest of the tour after rupturing ligaments in his knee while fielding in the first Test.

He is in Adelaide receiving treatment and waiting for the swelling to go down before returning home.

"I think it's unfortunate that a guy breaks his wrist at training, that's just one of those things," said Waugh, whose side are 1-0 up in the five-match series.

"I don't know how it's going to affect their side. Injuries are always destabilising but at the same time it gives someone else an opportunity to play for their country.

"We won't be taking whoever plays lightly. They're still going to be a competitive side."

Mail Cricket Editor