Harvey attacks behaviour of Waugh's team

Former Australian great Neil Harvey has launched a scathing attack on Steve Waugh's all-conquering current Test team.

Harvey, who was selected in the Australian Cricket Board's official Test Team of the (Twentieth) Century, and served for over a decade as a national team selector, revealed that he was "disgusted" by the team's behaviour, and that several other luminaries of Australian cricket shared his views.

"I was at the SCG during the Test and got together with a lot of the former players and the behaviour of this team was a talking point. Sam Loxton, Ian Meckiff, Lindsay Kline and Alan Davidson all indicated they were disgusted with the way this team carries on," Harvey stated.

"It's time something was done about the way they behave because as far as I'm concerned they are the greatest bunch of sledgers there's ever been. These boys get into a bit of trouble and it all comes out, every bit of badness in them. All I can say is I'm disgusted and the sad thing is I'm not the only one."

Remarkably, Harvey also questioned the playing ability of Waugh's outfit, who have just extended their world-record winning run.

"They are a good team but they're not the greatest ever" he said. "They haven't beaten much."

Harvey appealed for Waugh to improve the behaviour of his team, but expressed the view that any change was unlikely.

"The bloke in charge is one of the biggest sledgers of the lot," he continued. "Although he doesn't call it sledging any more, he calls it mental disintegration and as far as I'm concerned that's a load of crap."

Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath have both recently complained that Australians are unfairly singled out for criticism, and that tales of their on-field aggression are exaggerated. McGrath's protestations caused mirth in England however, where the umpires reported him on several occasions during his season with Worcestershire.