MALAN: WE NEED A WIN FOR MOTTY

Struggling England opening batsman admits the players have flopped and wants to take the heat off the coach

- DEAN WILSON

ENGLAND'S players have admitted they owe Mott Matthew a performance at the World Cup to ease the pressure on the under-fire coach.

But they accept that the criticism, especially from former players Eoin Morgan and Michael Vaughan, is fair game simply because they have not been anywhere near good enough.

Both England and Australia spent a day on the golf course in Ahmedabad ahead of their weekend clash, but only one side is battling World Cup embarrassment with dented pride.

And while one Aussie coach, Andrew McDonald, is busy preparing for the business end of the tournament with silverware very much on the line, fellow Aussie Mott (above, left) has a job on his hands just to avoid the wooden spoon and further barbs from the sidelines.