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Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh says England have lost their edge after winning the Ashes last year. England, who face the Aussies again this winter, have won only two of 10 Tests since, losing 2-0 in Pakistan late last year before drawing 1-1 against India and Sri Lanka this year.
“There is no doubt they (England) have lost the momentum of the Ashes (2005). They should have won (the home Test series) against Sri Lanka 3-0,” Waugh said. “They lacked killer instinct, were very casual and fell back into some of their old bad habits.”

England have been beset by the injuries since beating Australia 2-1 last year — their first Ashes series victory for 18 years. Simon Jones missed the series in Pakistan and India, while regular captain Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Ashley Giles played no part in India Tests.

But Waugh says huge celebrations which followed Australia series last summer also played a part in their demise. “I think the Pakistan series was a hangover from the Ashes. The boys had been on a bit of a celebratory run and they lost sight of ball, may be,” he added. “All of a sudden they found themselves back in another series and it was tough.”

England will again be without Vaughan for this winter’s five Tests, while there are doubts about availability of spinner Giles and paceman Jones. Star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be out three months after undergoing ankle surgery but chairman of selectors David Graveney is confident he will be fit for start of the Ashes, which begins in Brisbane on November 23.

Source:The News