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Hussain brands axed Aussie players 'lazy, disrespectful'

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has termed the axed Australian quartet from the Mohali Test as lazy and disrespectful and said that they will never forget the public humiliation of being dumped.

Stating that the Australian team's leadership structure is fundamentally flawed, Hussain labelled vice-captain Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja, who were stood down from the Mohali Test, as foolish, News.com.au reports.

Clarke and Arthur have been badly let down

According to Hussain, Watson, Pattinson, Khawaja and Johnson were lazy and disrespectful to not even respond to a simple task like doing their homework and added that he felt that captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur have been badly let down by the four players.

Stating that Australia's team spirit under Clarke, with the demotion of the four players, could return to haunt them during the July Ashes, Hussain, who led England 45 times between 1999-2003, said the team' s leadership structure felt wrong in many levels.

Criticising Watson's absence from the management team, Hussain said that during his stint as England captain, he had made sure that leading players, specially the No.2, were involved in important decisions for the team.

Decision to drop the players was harsh

Hussain further said that other players in the Australian team had a duty of care to check whether their teammates had completed a peer review of the second Test loss against India.

Rubbishing the team spirit of the Australians, Hussain said that other players in the Australian team had a duty of care to check whether their teammates had completed a peer review of the second Test loss against India, instead of just clapping from the balcony for the benefit of the TV cameras.

However, Hussain said that the decision to drop the players was harsh, adding that this felt like shooting them in the foot.

Hussain's warnings came as England vice-captain Matt Prior said the old enemy would not have their Ashes plans derailed by worrying about Australia's internal problems, the report added.