The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : MacGill rubbishes "Dad's Army" claims

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Thursday, Nov 16, 2006
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MacGill rubbishes "Dad's Army" claims

Melbourne: Injured leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has rubbished suggestions that the Australian cricket team was a "Dad's Army" and said the experience of these seasoned players would be a key factor during the Ashes series.

"You really need to have a bank of experience you can fall back on in moments of self-doubt, knowing you have proven yourself in the past," MacGill said.

The 35-year-old bowler said the older players in the Australian team — Shane Warne (37), Justin Langer (turning 36 next week), Matthew Hayden (35), Adam Gilchrist (35) and Damien Martyn (35) — were fit enough to maintain their records.

Short on experience

MacGill said age and inexperience were the drawbacks for the England team.

"That's an issue they have. They've got quite a number of players who haven't toured here before. No matter who you are, or how confident you are, you really need reinforcement when you go up to the next level," he was quoted as saying by `The Australian'.

MacGill, who had a cortisone injection in his right elbow on Monday, claimed he would be fit for the first Test in Brisbane beginning from November 23.

MacGill played in five of Australia's seven Tests last summer, claiming 22 wickets at an average of 21.59.

Taylor's support

Former captain Mark Taylor also supported MacGill's claims, saying "a lot of the guys in the last six or seven years have played in a lot of very successful Australian sides and the only thing that hasn't gone right for them was the last Ashes series.

"Those people — Langer, Hayden, Martyn, possibly Warne and McGrath — it may be their last crack at the Ashes, and they'll want to finish their cricket winning the Ashes back," he said. — PTI

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