Former seamer Glenn McGrath has ridiculed the critics for considering Australia's bowling weak and backed Ricky Ponting and his men to regain the Ashes from England.
Australia have been on a losing streak in all forms of the game and critics pinpointed lack of "swagger" and "arrogance" as a sign of collective weakness in Australia's pacemen.
Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan felt Australian bowling lacked talent, while former England skipper Michael Vaughan also criticised the Aussie attack, saying it lacks the "X factor" and even suggested the bowlers could ultimately be responsible for Ponting losing his captaincy.
"It makes you laugh, doesn't it?" said McGrath, who retired in 2007 after taking 563 Test wickets. "They were [once] saying we were too arrogant; you can't win either way. "It just amazes me when the Australian team was too strong, Number 1 in the world, it was bad for world cricket, bad for this and bad for that but now because all of a sudden they've lost a few games, Australia is now accused of hurting cricket because the team isn't strong enough." He added, "I think it's ridiculous. Before Australia lost to Pakistan in England, they'd won 13 in a row. The players know they're good enough and with one or two wins under their belts, they'll be OK."
McGrath also backed Ponting's men to regain the urn during their five-match Ashes series against England starting November 25 in Brisbane.
{{/usCountry}}McGrath also backed Ponting's men to regain the urn during their five-match Ashes series against England starting November 25 in Brisbane.
{{/usCountry}}"I was away on holiday when Australia played over in India but I have total faith in our boys," he told 'The Sun-Herald'. "The Test series will be played on our wickets and guys like Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris will do great. I know what they can do and I am confident they'll do it," he said.