Australia8217;s downfall began with 0-4 Test series drubbing in India: Glenn McGrath

The former pacer said nothing of that sort could have happened during his playing days.

Glenn McGrath says the handling of the 8216;homework gate8217; saga during the team8217;s tour of India earlier this year was 8220;pretty poor8221; and felt it 8220;all blew up8221; in the middle of the 0-4 Test series drubbing.

8220;You look at that side and over the next two years we lost seven players. That8217;s going to knock any team in a big way. But I wasn8217;t aware of the extent they8217;d allowed things to slip until it all blew up in India in March. The way the 8216;homework8217; saga was handled was pretty poor,8221; McGrath said.

The former pacer said nothing of that sort could have happened during his playing days.

8220;There was no way anything like that could have happened under Steve Waugh. There would have been no turning up late or not doing this or that. When you let that discipline slip you8217;re going to have big problems on the field. We had some big personalities but they really pulled together.8221;

The team management had axed four players,including then vice-captain Shane Watson,ahead of the Mohali Test against India in March on ground of breach of discipline.

Coach Mickey Arthur had dropped Watson,James Pattinson,Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson for the third Test of the series for not providing written feedback on how to improve their own and the team8217;s performance.

Speaking about the upcoming Ashes series,McGrath felt it will be hard fought.

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8220;When I was playing it was easy. But now I find it tough to make a prediction. I8217;m a very loyal,parochial Australian and I can never say we8217;re going to lose a series. So I8217;m going to say it8217;ll be a good,tough series,8221; McGrath was quoted as saying by 8216;The Guardian8217;.

McGrath said the appointment of his former team-mate Darren Lehmann could change the fortunes of the side.

8220;I played quite a bit with Boof Lehmann and he8217;s pretty relaxed. But he8217;s also old-school. He was a class player and he8217;s done great things as a coach. I8217;ve talked to guys who8217;ve played under him at Queensland and in the IPL and they all think he8217;s great. Players warm to him and respect him and he brings out their best. That8217;s what this team needs.8221;