'This is what you train for and get paid for' - Mark Waugh disregards Alastair Cook's attempt to defend England

Alastair Cook recently came to the aid of the England players after their abysmal performance on the India tour. However, Mark Waugh expressed his disbelief after hearing the comments from the former England captain.

England won the first Test in Hyderabad with a memorable showing of grit and determination. However, they went on to lose the next four Tests as India emerged victorious in the series by a comfortable 4-1 margin. The hosts won the fifth Test in Dharamsala by an innings and 64 runs on Saturday, March 9. Rohit Sharma and Co. were always in control of the game and the win helped them extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship points table.

As the Three Lions were struggling to keep pace with the Indians in the Dharamsala Test, former captain Alastair Cook empathised with the players, stating that it isn't easy to be on the road for a long time, something that has been the case with the England team.

“We are sitting here away from the emotions of the game. We are sitting here at home watching the telly. I am not defending England, but they have been away for getting on eight weeks. It’s a tough tour; they’re not robots," Cook said on TNT Sports.

Legendary Australian cricket Mark Waugh didn't buy into Cook's school of thought as he mentioned that international players train for such difficult assignments and also get paid for it. Waugh also opined that for an international player, embarking on an India tour is one of the greatest moments in his career.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this from Alastair Cook. As a international cricketer this is what you train for and get paid for. This is a one of the best tours as a international cricketer you can go on,” Waugh posted on his official 'X' handle.

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On Day 3 of the Dharamsala Test, India were bowled out for 477 after taking a lead of 259 runs. England were bowled out for 195 in their second innings as Ravichandran Ashwin bagged a five-for. Yashasvi Jaiswal was named the Player of the Series for his consistent performances with the bat. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav won the Player of the Match award as he picked up five wickets in the first innings and two in the second.