'Disgraceful' Australian quartet 'don't deserve ounce of sympathy'

The quartet of Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson doesn't deserve an ounce of sympathy for their disgraceful behaviour that led to their sacking from the squad facing India in the third Test match in Mohali, according to sports journalist Peter Badel.

"What a disgrace. Australia's infamous four deserve not a shred of sympathy for their feckless disregard for the team ethos and culture aimed at returning Australia to the apex of world cricket," Badel wrote in his column for News.com.au.

"In the past week, coach Mickey Arthur and the selectors have copped an absolute hammering from Australian cricket fans for the team's dismal performances on this wretched tour of India," he added.

"They have been dubbed a shambles. A team with serious performance problems. Some may have even questioned their passion, and whether they truly care about the baggy green," he further wrote.

Badel added: "People who want to whinge about the team's performances cannot now complain when Australian hierarchy take proactive measures to ensure the success the public demands."

"The actions of Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja are a kick in the guts for the standards of excellence Clarke and Arthur are trying to establish," he wrote.

"That one of the four should openly be seen smiling just moments after the announcement underlines the attitudinal problems that are eroding the team's collective ambitions," he said.

"Watson, Johnson, Pattinson and Khawaja are paid more than 500,000 dollar a year to play cricket for their country," he wrote.

"That they failed to take part in a peer review aimed at improving the team is an indictment on their professionalism and shows a lack of respect for their colleagues and the baggy green," he concluded.

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