Former England Cricket Academy director Rod Marsh has criticised his ex-employers for what he claims was the penny-pinching which saw influential bowling coach Troy Cooley swap sides in the Ashes battle.
Cooley, a Tasmanian, moved back to his homeland in May to work from Cricket Australia after being offered only a one-year extension to his England contract.
With the bowling of Duncan Fletcher’s side coming under increasing scrutiny Marsh believes the players are missing the input of Cooley and he blames the England and Wales Cricket Board for that.
"How they didn’t wrap Cooley up is beyond comprehension," said the former Australia wicketkeeper. "The ECB is an organisation that has a hell of a lot more money than almost anyone in world cricket and so you have to wonder why it was haggling over a contract extension.
"If Troy Cooley was the reason England’s bowlers performed so well last summer - and I think he was - then I simply don’t understand the ECB. I know Troy would have stayed with them. He wanted to stay in England."
Marsh also claimed England were on a downward spiral since winning back the Ashes last year.
"England have gone in only one direction - and that’s backwards," he added. "That’s why it doesn’t surprise me in the least that they’re already 2-0 down. The only thing that will surprise me about England is if they don’t lose 5-0."
The former Australia Test star also criticised aspects of Fletcher’s management, particularly over the non-selection of Monty Panesar and the unceremonious dropping of wicketkeeper Chris Read.
"What I really can’t believe about Fletcher is that at the end of the English summer he was calling Monty the best finger spinner in the world and then Monty comes out to Australia and can’t get a game," said Marsh.
"Australia are averaging over 100 runs a wicket and the bloke who is supposedly the best finger spinner in the world hasn’t played a game."
And Marsh, a long-time supporter of Read, added: "I feel so sorry for Read. The saddest thing is that, if Geraint Jones were to break a finger, then Read would come into the side knowing [Fletcher] has said he can’t play under pressure. I find it staggering a coach could say that about one of his own players.
"Fletcher’s going to do things his way but at the moment there’s no real accountability."
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