Mark Waugh on training etiquette, Australia’s squad shake-ups

Former Aussie superstar Mark Waugh has outed an annoying sin committed by Brett Lee during the pair’s time together under the baggy green.

An Old Trafford nets session quickly turned into a hazard zone this week after a brutal spell from Pat Cummins left veteran batsman Shaun Marsh with a broken arm.

The Australian speedster fired in a short ball to the 35-year-old and fractured his right forearm, leaving him out of the rest of the World Cup and forcing him to the surgical table.

Marsh wasn’t the only one feeling the heat from the fired-up quicks this week. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell narrowly avoided disaster after copping a similar blow minutes before Marsh. Fortunately for the Aussies, the limited overs specialist wasn’t badly injured.

The unfortunate Marsh incident surfaced a question over fast bowlers and training. Should the quicks be encouraged to produce chin music against their own batsmen in preparation for games?

When probed by Russell Barwick over net etiquette, Mark Waugh admitted he used to kick up a stink when facing particularly aggressive fast bowlers.

Binga loves a bit of chin music.

“I used to hate getting bowled bouncers in the nets because there’s no sight screen and the bowlers bowl about (1m) over the front line,” Waugh said. “And the pitches

sometimes only go halfway — it’s not even a full pitch sometimes, so it’s difficult. If I got bowled a bouncer in the nets, I’d nearly walk out.”

The former Test and ODI superstar outed an Aussie icon as the absolute worst when it came to training.

“The worst in the nets was Brett Lee because he was bloody quick and he used to bowl about this desk’s length over the front line,” he said. “You’d just be happy to defend the ball.”

WAUGH ON SELECTION SHAKE-UPS

Peter Handscomb has been passed the baton after Australia’s injury conundrums late in their World Cup campaign. An injury to Usman Khawaja saw the Victorian thrown under the spotlight this week as Australia prepares for its Egbaston semi-final against England.

In-form batsman Matthew Wade is also waiting in the wings, after being called into the extended 15-man squad.

Coach Justin Langer said Handscomb will “definitely play” in the must-win match. “He was so unlucky not to be in the initial squad after what he’d done to help us get to that point,” Langer said.

But Mark Waugh had other ideas, calling for Wade to be thrust into the order after a lengthy hot run with the bat in domestic cricket.

Mark Waugh says he wants Matthew Wade up high in the order over Peter Handscomb.

“I’ve heard Handscomb is coming in for Khawaja, I would actually pick Wade in for Khawaja. He’s batting out of his skin, so I’d put him in,” Waugh said. “Handscomb is a bit of a safer bet but to me, I don’t think he handles the quick bowling that well. England have (Jofra) Archer and (Mark) Wood who are going to pepper him, so I would have brought Wade in. But he may still come in for Glenn Maxwell, but I hope he doesn’t because they need Maxwell in the side.”

Waugh said the unfortunate turn of events has left Australia “slightly weaker” but nevertheless threw his weight behind the defending champs to get the job done over England.

FLETCH: ‘WE WON’T EVER SEE IT AGAIN’

Cameron Smith runs on for his 400th game this weekend.

Only Cameron Smith can remain at the forefront of rugby league conversations during Origin week. Despite not playing in Wednesday night’s decider, the retired Queensland representative was the talk of the town as he prepares for his 400th NRL appearance this weekend against the Sharks.

The 36-year-old has been a key member of the Melbourne Storm since his debut in 2002 and has no immediate plans to retire from professional football. Former NSW star Bryan Fletcher paid tribute to the hardy hooker, proclaiming him the greatest the game has ever seen.

“We haven’t seen it before and we won’t ever see it again,” he said. “He plays 80 minutes every game. He doesn’t get a rest.

“He’s not the strongest man, he’s not the biggest gym junkie — but he’s just perfect. He’s got the brains and he knows when to conserve energy.”

The NRL will enjoy possibly its greatest ever round of milestones this weekend, with stars Benji Marshall and Gavin Cooper both joining the 300 club. The pair will become the 37th and 38th players to achieve the incredible milestone.