Cricket Unfiltered podcast: There’s a lot of rubbish spoken about the baggy green

IAN Chappell caused a stir with his views on Steve Waugh as a cricketer and explains why he never regarded him as one of our greats on our CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast.

Listen to News Corp's new podcast — Cricket Unfiltered

“I ALWAYS viewed Steve Waugh as a selfish cricketer” says Ian Chappell.

The former Australian captain caused a stir this week when he announced his top 25 Ashes players since 1972 in the Sunday Telegraph and left out Waugh, one of our most successful captains.

Speaking on News Corp’s Cricket Unfiltered podcast Chappell said he had his reasons for excluding Waugh but including his brother Mark.

“I didn’t like selfish players in my team when I was captain” said Chappell.

LISTEN! On our new CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast, Ian Chappell explains his reasons for omitting Steve Waugh from his list of Ashes greats and Robert “Crash” Craddock provides his unique insight into the battle for the urn.

You can download Cricket Unfiltered from the iTunes store

Chappell said he preferred Mark who he “always thought was a better cricketer”

One of cricket’s most respected commentators and columnists, Chappell’s opinion will surprise many Australian cricket fans given Steve Waugh averaged over 58 in 46 Tests against England including 10 centuries.

Waugh’s Ashes career featured some memorable performances that have become part of Australian sporting folklore including his Bradman-esque 1989 tour of England, his twin tons at Old Trafford in 1997, or his epic last ball of the day century at the SCG in 2003.

But in a subjective list Chappell has his reasons for leaving out not only Waugh but Matthew Hayden, Mark Taylor and Graham Gooch.

Chappell also did not agree with the mythology Waugh tried to create around the Baggy Green cap: “I think we’re very different, especially when it comes to the baggy green.

“I’ve never had a baggy green from the day I retired … I think there’s a lot of rubbish spoken about the baggy green.”

Considered one of Australia’s greatest skippers Chappell also senses Steve Smith has more to learn about the art of captaincy.

Recalling how he like Smith had to fight to be recognised as a top order batsman after starting as a leg-spinning all-rounder under Bob Simpson Chappell said Smith had done a “fair job” but “has treated Nathan Lyon a bit harshly when he is bowling well.”

Controversial English player Ben Stokes also made the Top 25 list and Chappell thinks he could eclipse Ian Botham as England’s best modern day all-rounder.

Chappell is not as optimistic about his tour prospects.

“If the police find him guilty there is no way the ECB can bring him out here ... He has to suffer some kind of personal punishment and a cricketing punishment.”

“If he were found not guilty it wouldn’t surprise me if he was out here playing in the third Test.”

You can listen to the full interview with cricketing legend Ian Chappell on the Cricket Unfiltered podcast where he also explains where current Aussie opener Matt Renshaw can improve his game.

Also in this week’s podcast, one of Australia’s best cricket writers, the Courier-Mail’s Robert Craddock, joins the show to give his Ashes preview. Click here to download the podcast.

Originally published as Cricket Unfiltered podcast: There’s a lot of rubbish spoken about the baggy green