England has become ultra-competitive cricket team: Rod Marsh

Former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh believes that the days of unprepared England players are history, and insists that the Andrew Strauss-led team is the best side in the world.

Marsh was the Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) national academy from October 2001 to September 2005.

“The biggest problem I saw when I arrived in 2001 was that English cricketers didn’t really want to play. It was the big difference I always identified between English and Australian players,” the Daily Express quoted Marsh, as saying.

“If we [the Australian team] were in England and we saw clouds coming over we prayed they went away, whereas the Englishmen prayed the clouds would make it rain so they didn’t have to play �" because if you don’t play you can’t fail.”

“That was the archetypal English professional’s attitude. It’s better to keep your contract rather than play and fail and maybe lose your contract,” he added.

The 63-year-old further said that the current England team has become ultra-competitive.

“They want to win and dominate. They are on top and their side is based around a big depth of fast bowlers. Fast bowlers win Test matches,” Marsh said.

“Andy Flower has got them believing in themselves. That’s why Australia were so good for so long; they believed in each other and kept it simple,” he added. (ANI)

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