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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > Ashes Series 2002-2003 > England must bid farewell to Hussain as Test captain: Botham 10.34 IST 04th Dec 2002 By IndiaExpress Bureau England skipper Nasser Hussain should lose his job in the wake of the team's Ashes thrashing in Australia former captain Ian Botham has said. An innings defeat by Steve Waugh's men in Perth saw England lose their eighth successive Ashes series, Australia taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the best of five Test campaign. It was too much to take for legendary all-rounder Botham who, as well as calling for Hussain's resignation, has also said wicket keeper Alec Stewart and fast bowler Andy Caddick should have their international careers terminated. "Enough is enough. After yet another Ashes series defeat, it's time to clear out the dead wood and build a brave new England," Botham said. "England must bit the bullet and bid farewell to Alec Stewart, Andy Caddick and, I'm sorry to say, Nasser Hussain as Test captain." Botham said he had "often waved the flag for England since Hussain took over and he deserves the nation's gratitude for restoring their credibility." But he added that the current series had clearly taken its toll. "Nasser did a great job in marshalling those memorable wins against the West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but now he looks shell-shocked. "That is understandable because England's catalogue of injuries and sub-standard performances have been unbelievable, but it is time for him to walk away. Botham was particularly critical of Hussain's frequent conversations with his bowlers. "Hussain's captaincy has clearly suffered, notably the excessive hen-pecking of his bowlers from mid-off every other ball. "As (former Australia fast bowler) Jeff Thomson said on TV during the Perth Test, Nasser wouldn't like it if someone ran up to him as he took guard and told him which shot to play from the next delivery. "When you start telling a bowler what to do all the time, it can only undermine his confidence and if I had been playing in the last match I would have been tempted to throw the ball back at him." However, Botham said he hoped Hussain would resign rather than be sacked. "He deserves to go with dignity, so I hope he is able to walk away from the job." But with Hussain repeatedly making it clear he was not about to quit and England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, saying yesterday it was "paramount" that the Essex batsman stayed as captain, Botham's words are unlikely to be heeded. He himself knows all about losing the captaincy during an Ashes series. After bagging a pair in the drawn second Test at Lord's in 1981, Botham resigned as England skipper, although Alec Bedser, then the chairman of selectors, confirmed in a subsequent television interview that the decision had already been taken to remove him from the job. But with Australia 1-0 up, Botham proceeded to turn in an extraordinary sequence of match-winning performances, with both bat and ball, which saw England win the six Test series 3-1. in-depth coverage > Ashes Series 2002-2003 > |
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