SYDNEY – Former Aussie Test batsman and current national selector Mark Waugh claimed on Tuesday that he did not view the culture of the current Australia men's outfit as “different to any team from any previous eras”.
Waugh - who played 40 of his 128 Tests for Australia under the captaincy of his twin brother, Steve, who last week wrote that some current members of the team had “failed our (Test cricket) culture” – said the banned trio had made a one-off mistake for which they had paid a hefty price.
“These guys, they're good guys, they've got good morals on and off the field,” Mark Waugh told Sydney's Sky Sports radio.
“I've listened to a lot of stuff since the saga about a bad culture in Australian cricket, I just don't see that.
“Of course there's the odd individual player who pushed the boundaries and that's always going to happen, that always has happened but to then say there's a whole toxic culture in Australian cricket, I'm just not seeing that."
Warner and his two banned teammates made a 'once-off' mistake, said Waugh. Photo: Ben Rushton/EPA
“I've been on tour with these guys, Test match series in India (last year) and the T20 tour in New Zealand (last February) and I haven't seen that.
“People are drawing a long bow there saying the whole Australian cricket culture is toxic. I don't think there's any difference between this team and any other Australian team.
“In fact, most of this team are so quiet on the field. There are not too many players who are up … and in your face.”