Lloyd launches Murray attack

Former captain blasts Davis Cup pull-out

Last updated: 21st March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lloyd launches Murray attack

Lloyd: Critical of Murray pull-out

Call me old-fashioned, but when is it a convenience, and not a privilege, to play for your country?

John Lloyd
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Former Davis Cup captain John Lloyd has hit out at Andy Murray for his absence from Britain's shocking Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania.

The loss was the latest in a string of embarrassing results that culminated in Lloyd resigning from his position.

Murray decided to skip the encounter, claiming it would give some valuable experience to the younger members of the side.

But Lloyd has dismissed that reasoning, believing that the world number four should always be ready to represent his country.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "Call me old-fashioned, but when is it a convenience, and not a privilege, to play for your country?

Lloyd also criticised the attitude of other top players such as Roger Federer, who often sit out the early rounds of the competition each year.

Not right

He added: "I know Roger Federer, and other top players, pick and choose when to play in the Davis Cup. But does that make it right?

"If England's football team had failed to qualify for the World Cup, would it be okay for Wayne Rooney to turn round and say that he didn't think he'd bother playing for the international team until they had some proper matches, or a team worthy of his time?

"Of course not.

"When did it come about that someone only played for their country when they had a good team?

"Yet the public seem to have accepted Andy should be playing only when the team are in the upper echelons of the competition.

"The reality is that the only way for Britain to get back to the World Group of the Davis Cup is with him in the team.

"With Andy pretty much assured of winning two matches against any other country, out of the five rubbers played over a Davis Cup tie, it's possible, of course, to get back to the top.

"The question is: how much do we want that to happen?"

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