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Last Updated: Monday, 24 July 2006, 08:57 GMT 09:57 UK
England desire has gone - Waugh
Andrew Strauss
Stand-in skipper Strauss and his team have struggled to force wins
Steve Waugh says England have lost their edge after winning the Ashes.

England, who face the Aussies again this winter, have won only two of 10 Tests since, losing 2-0 in Pakistan and drawing 1-1 with Sri Lanka and India.

"There is no doubt they have lost the momentum of the Ashes. They should have won against Sri Lanka 3-0," the former Australia skipper told the Independent.

"They lacked the killer instinct, they were very casual and they fell back into some of their old bad habits."

England have been beset by injuries since beating Australia 2-1 last year - their first Ashes series victory for 18 years.

The boys had been on a bit of a celebratory run and they lost sight of the ball

Steve Waugh

Simon Jones missed the series in Pakistan and India, while captain Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Ashley Giles played no part in the India Tests.

But Waugh says the huge celebrations which followed the 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 the ball, maybe," he added.

"All of a sudden they found themselves back in another series and it was tough."

TMS VIEW
SM

England will again be without Vaughan for this winter's five Tests, while there are doubts about the 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 the start of the series, which begins in Brisbane on 23 November.

SEE ALSO
'Embarrassed' Aussies eye revenge
16 Jul 06 |  Australia
Hughes wants tougher Aussie side
22 Jul 06 |  Cricket
Waugh urges Aussies to get tough
25 Apr 06 |  Cricket


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