Phil Tufnell revealed to Cricket AM his simple message to England's ailing Ashes team - chill out, lads!
Tuffers turns Rotten - and has a message for one ME Waugh
Phil Tufnell has a simple message for England's ailing Ashes team - chill out!
The former spinner dropped in on
Cricket AM to give his views on the early exchanges in the battle of the urn.
And Tufnell, nicknamed 'the Cat' for his ability to curl up and sleep in the dressing room, says England are guilty of trying too hard.
"I think everyone was clutching for wickets, trying to bowl magic balls," said Tufnell, reflecting on the opening days of the first Test in Cardiff.
"The guys have got to chill out a bit and play some decent cricket. They got a little bit wrapped up in it (the hype) and the Aussies wrestled the initiative off them by just playing some good, solid, decent cricket.
"We went out there and tried to smash it around, with the attitude that 'this is the Ashes, we've got to take it to the Aussies', a little Twenty20 about it. Having said that, crikey I wish I'd played in England sides that got 400-plus. We used to get about 180!"
Cracking
Tufnell, who played 42 Tests for England taking 121 wickets in the process, added that - in his view - Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz has received some unfair criticism.
"Nathan was getting stick but Australia will never bring a side to these shores to defend the Ashes that is not any good, believe me!" he insisted.
"I couldn't wait for the series to get started; if it's anything like 2005 then we are in for a cracking time.
"There is no Warne or McGrath but these boys can play and so far they've shown us how to play proper cricket."
Hero
Tuffers memorably bowled England to victory over the West Indies in 1991 at the Oval, when he picked up the prized scalp of Viv Richards, and six years later took 7-66 and 4-27 at the same ground, removing Mark Waugh in each innings, to set up a memorable win over the Aussies.
"I liked getting him (Waugh) out more than any other player because he always used to have a go at me! He always used to say I couldn't bowl," reflected Tuffers.
"But I think I was one of the top bowlers to get him out during his career, so obviously I couldn't bowl very well Mr Mark Waugh!
"He (Richards) was one of my heroes. It was amazing. When he walked to the wicket and used to snort like he did you'd sort of go 'oh my god, I'm bowling at Viv Richards'.
"There is just that little time when you have to rein it in and just make sure you get it down the other end. I had him stumped and caught there so I got him out twice in one ball! Brilliant!"
Horrific
Tufnell has few - if any - special memories of his time at the crease as a batsman and admitted: "It's not nice. Batsmen always say us bowlers have got to go out and get runs otherwise we don't get in the team but I didn't see Nasser Hussain sticking his hand up to bowl at Brian Lara when he was on 370.
"I wish I had [made a will before facing Curtly Ambrose!] I love my batters because they do have to go out and face it.
"Being an opening batsman must be horrific. You are facing the fastest boys in the world with a new ball, the pitch is fresh. I couldn't do that for a living! It's like legalised stoning! They try and kill you! They are nasty boys!"
Since playing his last Test in 2001, Tufnell has acquired cult status in part through his appearances on "I'm a celebrity..." and he has now released a single called 'The Ashes Song' by Tuffers and the Wooden Urns, which is available to download now. All of the proceeds go to the charity Cricket for Change, which helps special needs children.
"I thought no-one's done an Ashes song before so I thought I would have a go! It's done in the Johnny Rotten style. I'm a bit of a punk-rocker at heart. It was great fun," he said.
