Bracewell is regarded as one of the best cricket coaches

Departing Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell has fired a broadside at those criticising county cricket.

Bracewell, who led Gloucestershire to their fifth one-day crown in six years when they won the C&G Trophy on Saturday, is angry at the England team hierarchy for forever blaming external factors for their performances.

Test captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the county scene for not producing the competitive edge needed to step up to the highest level.

But Bracewell, who is scheduled to bring the Kiwis on tour here next year, believes England should take a leaf out of the national rugby union team's book.

He said: "They should sit down with Clive Woodward and work out a similar environment to the English rugby team.

"They have a no-excuse environment - if the English rugby side lose the World Cup it is because of the players, not because of what is around them.

"There is a no-excuse environment in cricket but England haven't bought into it.

"They have been given the contracts they want, players have been taken out of county games whenever they want but they still blame the nursery of the game."

Team unity: All 14 members of the Gloucester squad celebrate

Critics and Gloucestershire fans have long questioned why the most successful team in one-day cricket so seldom sees any of its players awarded international caps.

Bracewell said: "The whole thing does annoy me because my guys give their heart and soul to want to play for England and we have sacked guys for not wanting to play for England.

"They give 100% of 100%, they didn't come to Lord's with excuses.

"We were dubbed Dad's Army and told it was one game too many but experience kicked in, we didn't panic and stuck to our game plan."