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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
PERTH, OCT 23: Australia's legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee says England's cricketers have made two massive tactical errors even before a ball is bowled in the Ashes series.
``Rather than flying into Perth on the euphoria of their courageous series win against South Africa, the tourists have blundered badly by revealing their innermost fears,'' he said as England arrived today to prepare for the series starting next month.
``I find it quite amazing that before a ball has been bowled in anger, England have put their cards on the table over Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne,'' he said in a column in The West Australian.
Lillee, the scourge of English batsmen in 23 tests against the `old enemy' between 1970 and 1983, is now 49 but still plays in friendlies.
Though long retired from first-class cricket, the man who captured 355 test wickets will line up for the opposition in the first match of the England tour next Thursday when Alec Stewart's men take on an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI ina one-day match at Lilac Hill Park, Caversham.
Lillee wrote: ``That former England captain Mike Atherton has openly admitted he still lives in terror of fast bowler McGrath after losing his wicket to him six times in England last year, must have the big fella from Narromine licking his lips in anticipation.''
The jitters England number three Nasser Hussain will suffer are bound to permeate all the way down the order, Lillee said.
He said he was also bewildered England sent an SOS to former Australian leg-spinner Peter Philpott in a bid to shore up their confidence when facing Shane Warne, the world's number one leg-spinner, if his shoulder injury is overcome in time.
``If England's specialist batsmen need major assistance on how to play Warne, or any other Australian leg-spinner for that matter, at this late stage, then they are in deep trouble,'' he said.
``England are being naive if they think Philpott can, in such a short time, change the way a batsman thinks and plays.''
Lillee, a former worldrecord holder, claimed England had ``shot themselves in the foot and blundered badly.''
Philpott has coached leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, emerging as a major force in test ranks, and a capable deputy for Warne if the blond Victorian does not recover in time for the series.
Meanwhile, the English team arrived here today and were quickly whisked off to their Perth hotel after the long flight from London.
The last English captain to succeed in an Ashes series in Australia was Mike Gatting, whose side beat Allan Border's team 2-1 here 12 years ago.
England cricket manager Graham Gooch shrugged off the blast from Dennis Lillee, who had also criticised England's decision not to include spinner Phil Tufnell and paceman Andy Caddick in the 17-man party.
Gooch said Lillee's comments would have no bearing on the five-Test series. ``It's what happens when you walk over the white line that counts,'' he said.
English team: Alec Stewart (captain), Nasser Hussain (vice-captain), Mike Atherton, MarkButcher, Dominic Cork, John Crawley, Robert Croft, Angus Fraser, Darren Gough, Dean Headley, Warren Hegg, Ben Hollioake, Allan Mullally, Mark Ramprakash, Peter Such, Graham Thorpe, Alex Tudor.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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