da 888： Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, says the current squad needs to be mentally tougher if they want to improve in the Test arena
da gbg bet： Cricinfo staff16-Jan-2008
Nasser Hussain: “I know this makes me sound a bit fogeyish and I know it wound upRicky Ponting during the 2005 Ashes but I think the constant to-ingand fro-ing of players is bad” © Getty Images
Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, says the current squad needs to be mentally tougher if they want to improve in the Test arena.”I believe England have the raw materials to build another very strongside,” Hussain wrote in the . “The area of concern for me is mental; they need toughening up.”Hussain targeted the soft approach of the batsmen for their failure to score runs. “There isa softness about some of the batsmen that is preventing themdelivering the big runs,” he said. During England’s recent series loss in Sri Lanka, only once did a batsman go past 100. “There is a sense that being England playersis enough. They feel comfortable in the side and think they havefulfilled their potential.”When Kevin Pietersen first arrived there was no doubt that he splitthe dressing room. Some liked him, others did not. But he is involvedin a single-minded quest to be No. 1. People like him get calledselfish but we need more of that sort of attitude,” he said.Hussain criticised England’s policy of players constantly leaving the field. “I want tosee England tougher in the field as well. They need consistency inpersonnel and that includes fielding positions,” he said. “By that I mean thatplayers should stay on the field at all times, not pop off for a breakany time they feel like it.””I know this makes me sound a bit fogeyish and I know it wound upRicky Ponting during the 2005 Ashes but I think the constant to-ingand fro-ing of players is bad. First, it causes the captain a headachewith fielding positions and secondly it exhibits a mental softnessthat is bad for the team. If you cannot stay on the field for twohours during a fielding session, what chance have you got of battingfor seven hours?”Hussain looks at the upcoming series against New Zealand as a preparation for the Ashes in 2009, but feels the team miss the all-round abilities of Andrew Flintoff.”Back-to-back Test series against a weak New Zealand side give them achance to get back to winning ways and build for the Ashes in 2009.The batting is full of potential. The bowling could do with a bit morevariety, which is why Andrew Flintoff is such a massive player forEngland, despite all the problems.”He is a bowling allrounder now and is a great catcher at slip. Healso inspires Pietersen to play better because there is a rivalrybetween the two. If Flintoff comes back and starts performing, then Ithink you will see Pietersen raise his game, which has to be greatnews for England.”
