Jeff Thomson criticizes Australian cricketers over poor performances in Sri Lanka

Australian fast-bowling legend Jeff Thomson has hit out at the country's cricket players over their performances in Sri Lanka. He has also claimed that Twenty20 cricket makes ordinary players look like superstars.

Thomson, who took 200 wickets in 51 Tests and 55 wickets in 50 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia during a 12-year career, felt that the current batch of players has bigger mouths than ability and that they are tigers at home only to fail spectacularly when playing away.

"Their mouths are bigger than their ability. Except for a couple in our team, the rest are pretty average in overall performance. They might do well in Australia, but you got to do well all over the world", Thomson said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Australia have had a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka especially in the Test series where they were whitewashed 3-0. This in fact, was their third straight whitewash in Asia on the trot, the other two being against India and Pakistan.

"We got walloped in Tests because we batted poorly. They don't treasure their wickets enough playing T20 cricket and they were trying to smack the ball. It doesn't work in Test cricket. The Big Bash and T20s have influenced players all over the world. In T20 bad players can get away. A lot of the times ordinary players look superstars in T20. But when they play Tests they are found out. We seem to have lost the plot back home at Australia with selections", the former fast-bowler added.

However, the men from down under are faring better in the limited overs version of the game where they are currently leading 2-1 in the five match ODI series. The fourth ODI is scheduled to take place on 31 August at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. A win here for the visitors will seal the series in their favour.