Stewart, Swann slam ‘boring’ and ‘old-fashioned’ England
5 Sept 2014 3:42 AM IST
Former cricket captain Alec Stewart and ex-Test spinner Graeme Swann blasted the English side and questioned the team’s commitment to the 50-over game after Alastair Cook and Co. suffered a nine-wicket defeat to India in the fourth ODI on Tuesday to lose the series 3-0 with still a match to go.
Both Stewart and Swann labelled England as boring and said they are playing an old-fashioned game embarrassing for the fans. ‘It is boring and embarrassing cricket. We haven’t caught up with the rest of the world. It is so outdated, outmoded and old fashioned and the whole strategy and outlook must change,’ Swann was quoted as saying by The Mirror. He feels if the England management cannot act now in putting the house in order then things would only worsen ahead of the 2015 World Cup, Feb 14-March 29.
‘If the England management, captain and selectors cannot see there is a burning issue that needs to be changed, then I am worried, angry and sad,’ he said. Stewart said England have not only to change their mindset but also their game plan. ‘We are playing one-day cricket as if it is still 1995. We need a change of mindset, game plan and culture.’
Meanwhile, former skipper Michael Vaughan accused Cook of dropping players, who are better than him. HE also said if the England captain doesn’t step down voluntarily then the selectors should sack him.
‘Well, now is the time to take risks and replace Alastair Cook as captain of the one-day team....I think it is getting to the stage now when that harsh reality has hit home for England. Cook is a stubborn man. He proved it this summer when he defied people calling for him to go and made his point by winning the Test series,’ Vaughan wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
Both Stewart and Swann labelled England as boring and said they are playing an old-fashioned game embarrassing for the fans. ‘It is boring and embarrassing cricket. We haven’t caught up with the rest of the world. It is so outdated, outmoded and old fashioned and the whole strategy and outlook must change,’ Swann was quoted as saying by The Mirror. He feels if the England management cannot act now in putting the house in order then things would only worsen ahead of the 2015 World Cup, Feb 14-March 29.
‘If the England management, captain and selectors cannot see there is a burning issue that needs to be changed, then I am worried, angry and sad,’ he said. Stewart said England have not only to change their mindset but also their game plan. ‘We are playing one-day cricket as if it is still 1995. We need a change of mindset, game plan and culture.’
Meanwhile, former skipper Michael Vaughan accused Cook of dropping players, who are better than him. HE also said if the England captain doesn’t step down voluntarily then the selectors should sack him.
‘Well, now is the time to take risks and replace Alastair Cook as captain of the one-day team....I think it is getting to the stage now when that harsh reality has hit home for England. Cook is a stubborn man. He proved it this summer when he defied people calling for him to go and made his point by winning the Test series,’ Vaughan wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
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