Time to wakeup, axe 'Big three' of English cricket: former captains

Former England legends Bob Willis and Ian Botham had unanimously demanded the sacking of skipper Michael Vaughan, coach Duncan Fletcher and chief selector David Graveney following the poms disastrous World Cup campaign.

''One-day cricket has been way down the list of priorities.

Heads will roll and those heads should be Graveney, Fletcher and Vaughan. They've all got to go,'' Willis told the 'Sun' newspaper.

Willis also called for a immediate rethink in England's strategy, saying, ''England have got to behave as Australia did after the embarrassment of their 2005 Ashes defeat. We have got to start planning now for the next World Cup.'' Insisting the need for fresh legs in the team, the former captain said, ''They should get out the birth certificates and anyone who is 32 or over now, they're out of it. We must get young players into the side and that preparation should start with the one-day internationals against the West Indies this summer.'' Meanwhile, another former skipper Ian Botham has also betted for a major shake up in order to sort out the present crisis.

''We need to change our whole attitude and major personnel changes are needed. The fans aren't idiots. They know we're far from a decent one-day team. We have good players but they need a new direction,'' he said ''Duncan Fletcher has done some great things for England but everyone has a shelf life and his has expired. I don't see how he can motivate the team now. I hope the ECB are looking at change, not sitting on their hands,'' 51-year-old Botham added.

UNI XC SSC GC1148

Viewer's Comment

Comments Not Available

More Stories