Mark Waugh slams ‘brittle’ Poms, expects Aussies to clean up Ashes

Very few things are harder than having someone question your resolve but Mark Waugh has done exactly that to the English cricket team.

The first day of the second Ashes Test being washed out is a massive blessing for England because one Australian great believes the rain is the only thing that will save their blushes.

After collapsing badly on the final day of the first Test at Edgbaston the confidence of the home side will be at a low after the high of winning the World Cup.

And now former Australia batsmen Mark Waugh has fired a broadside at Joe Root and his fellow batsmen, labelling them as brittle.

“Lord’s is a great Test match, we have got a pretty good record there as well,” Waugh said.

“I like our bowling attack, we have got six fast bowlers ready to go, so we can rotate them when we need to depending upon conditions.”

He then turned on England’s batsmen as well as taking a swipe at their bowlers. “England, I see their batting as being a bit brittle,” Waugh said.

“They have no James Anderson for most of the series and they haven’t got a spinner that is going to bowl you out, so Australia look like they’re in the box seat.”

He then tipped the Aussies to go up 2-0. “If there is enough time to play, I think Australia will win this Test,” he said.

Sadly for the Aussies persistent rain delayed the scheduled start in the second Test at Lord’s on Wednesday.

When the match should have been getting underway, the square and pitch remained fully covered and prospects of any play soon ended. With plenty of wet weather expected in London, Australia might just need something special.

HOLME-GROWN STAR SHINING

Valentine Holmes is making waves in the US.

The Ashes is not the only big event happening right now in Aussie sport with Valentine Holmes still trying to make the final 53-man squad at the New York Jets.

The Australian impressed in his opening pre-season game with the Jets against cross-town rivals the Giants and said he got goosebumps being out there.

And now former NRL star Brian Fletcher has placed Holmes at a much higher NFL rating than what fellow NRL to NFL convert Jarryd Hayne achieved at his time there.

“You compare what Jarryd Hayne did to what Holmes did and Holmes ran for more metres and had more completions,” Fletcher said.

“The only problem is they are not great the Giants (the Jets’ opponent in their first preseason game), if he does come back you would think the (North Queensland) Cowboys have the money in the cap.”

Holmes remains a long shot to make the Jets’ 53-man roster for next month’s start of the regular season because he is positioned sixth and last on the Jets’ running back depth chart.

New signing Le’Veon Bell leads the rankings followed by Bilal Powell, who was also inactive against the Giants.

Holmes appears destined to be stashed away on the Jets’ practice squad for the season and be ineligible to play NRL games.