Aussie great raises potential WAGs issue

Australian great Ian Healy has questioned whether the presence of the Australian players’ wives and girlfriends has contributed to the pitiful showing in the fourth Ashes Test.

The tourists were bowled out for 60 in just 111 balls, the shortest first innings in the history of Test cricket.

Former wicketkeeper Healy questioned the focus and unity of the Australian team.

"Their hearts might not be that strong ... are they together as a team? Do they fragment from here? Do they meet and talk about it tonight? Will they confront it?"

“All their partners are here and some of the most respected cricketers I played with hated that distraction. They weren’t allowed on tour until after the series had been won.

“Your mind needs to be completely focused on it. Cricket is a sport that requires complete concentration. You need everything going for you and I’m not sure they’re pushing for that hard enough.”

It is not the first time the WAGs have been blamed for poor on-field performance, with Adam Gilchrist revealing in his book that the presence of the wives and girlfriends was a divisive factor for the team during the 2-1 Ashes series defeat in 2005.

Ex-captain Ricky Ponting and spin great Shane Warne didn’t weigh into the off-field issues but the pair lamented Australia’s one trick batting line-up.

"Straight away they were behind the eight ball, everyone came out and continued to play the same way, got the same results," Ponting said.

“There was no real plan and they should have learnt from the last Test match," Warne said.

England great Ian Botham didn’t miss the opportunity to put the boot into the old enemy.

"It's the sort of score you expect to see at the under-9s on the village green," Botham said on UK television.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop joked that she would consider revoking the citizenships of the playing eleven.