‘It’s a mistake, particularly in Manchester’ – Steve Waugh slams Australian management for dropping a key player from 4th Ashes 2023 Test

England is currently locking horns with Australia in the fourth Ashes Test 2023. After the end of play on Day two, England have scored 384 runs with the loss of four wickets in the 72 overs they played in their innings so far and they have a lead of 67 runs over the hosts. The Three Lions skipper, Ben Stokes is playing on 24 runs off 37 balls with two fours and Harry Brook is batting on 14 runs from 41 balls.

Former Australia skipper, Steve Waugh has slammed Australia management for dropping off-spinner Todd Murphy from the playing eleven for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. Murphy was brought in to replace the veteran Australian off-spinner, Nathan Lyon in the third Test match of the series. With England looking to equal the five-match Test series 2-2, Australia went into the game with a full-pace attack.

We’ve got four right-arm quick bowlers so there’s a bit of sameness about our attack: Steve Waugh 

However, Waugh thinks that the visitors have made a mistake by dropping Murphy from the squad. “I tend to disagree with it. I think it’s a mistake, particularly in Manchester where the ball does turn. I know they’re probably looking at the forecast and saying there’s a bit of rain around, but you do need variation in the attack. Particularly with the way England plays,” Waugh was quoted as saying in SENQ Breakfast.

Waugh opines that if Australia fails to score a big total then it would be very easy for the hosts to level the 2023 edition of the Ashes. “They go at the bowlers really hard and we’ve got four right-arm quick bowlers so there’s a bit of sameness about our attack. But if the wicket is pretty flat and we haven’t got too much up our sleeve, I think England will probably like the sight of the four right-arm quick bowlers,” the 58-year-old asserted.