Advertisement

'Got no clue': Mark Waugh's stunning spat with cricket journo

Aussie cricket great Mark Waugh has taken a stunning swipe at a journo in an ugly social media spat.

Waugh took aim at ESPNcricinfo writer Daniel Brettig on Tuesday, in an argument about whether Australia should utilise two spinners at the World Cup.

At the start of the Australian summer it was widely believed that Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon were fighting over a single spot in the 15-man squad.

However the Aussies played both spinners in a number of ODIs against India recently, and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns offered a strong endorsement of the pair.

Mark Waugh is a former Australian selector. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Mark Waugh is a former Australian selector. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“Most teams around the world seem to be including one at least and probably two spinners in their World Cup squad,” Hohns said during the tour of India.

“We expect them to. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and just say we’re going with fast bowlers when spinners in world cricket, and in one-day cricket in particular, are being very, very successful.”

However those sentiments were met with some derision.

Brettig suggested Australia should have been playing both spinners a lot earlier, which sparked Waugh’s frosty response:

Waugh then said Brettig had “no clue about something he reports on.”

Spin to win?

India are fully expected to deploy Kuldeep Yadav and at least one other spinner throughout the tournament.

World Cup favourites England will unlash both Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali.

Short boundaries at small English venues will be a bother for all bowlers at the 50-over showpiece but Hohns made the point that “pitches may be a little bit worn in the latter part of the tournament, given they will have some traffic on them”.

“That’s an important consideration for us too,” he said.

Adam Zampa has been on fire. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Adam Zampa has been on fire. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Zampa, who excelled throughout the current tour of India and regularly spun the tourists to victory while capturing prized scalps like that of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, has seemingly secured his place in the 15-man squad.

Lyon, who was Australia’s most economical bowler in the Delhi series decider, also impressed Hohns after being recalled.

“Nathan we know is a world-class bowler … very experienced,” Hohns said.

“Zampa is coming along quite nicely, so we’re comfortable at the moment. It’s a good combination.”

with AAP