'Overly sensitive': Kane Cornes sparks fierce Ashes debate

Former AFL player turned commentator Kane Cornes has been heavily criticised for suggesting Australian Test captain Meg Lanning's tactics in last weekend's drawn Ashes Test should be put under more scrutiny.

Australia and England played out a thrilling draw on the final day of the four-day Test on Sunday, set up by a fairly sporting declaration from Lanning which gave the visitors a shot after tea on day four.

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Requiring 257 runs from 48 overs, England looked as though they would claim a surprising win before a late batting collapse lead to an exciting finish.

The tourists kept the required run-rate at around six-an-over for the entire chase before getting it as low as 45 runs from the final 10 overs with seven wickets in hand.

But the key wicket of Nat Sciver (58 from 62) swung the match dramatically, as England lost 6-26 and Australia went within touching distance of retaining the Ashes with a win.

Tailenders Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone had to survive the final 13 balls, as Australia went from having almost every fielder on the boundary to all around the bat chasing the win.

The match was lauded as an example of why women's cricket deserves more Test matches, as well as being extended from four to five days, after the Ashes Test in Canberra was disrupted by rain.

In the days afterwards though, Cornes took to Twitter to suggest those reporting on women's sport were not being critical enough of players and tactics, for fear of being told they were being too harsh.

He did so in response to a Tweet from English cricket writer Isabelle Westbury, who called for fans to 'lay off the players' in light of the thrilling conclusion to the Test.

“The media and supporters are scared to objectively analyse what they are watching for fear it will come across as being critical which will create fierce backlash from an overly sensitive cohort,” Cornes wrote.

“Had this been the poor captaincy choices of former male skippers Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting or god forbid Michael Clarke, it would’ve been headline news."

He also went on to say he felt similarly about the AFLW.

Kane Cornes generates controversy in calling for Meg Lanning criticism

Westbury responded to Cornes suggestion, saying that while she broadly agreed, it was unfair in the context of how few women's Tests have been played.

She said that while women's sport wouldn't grow without criticism, she felt often players were being held to an 'impossible standard' which differed wildly from that their male counterparts were judged by.

What is lost is that we often hold women to an impossible standard. Espec. in Tests re declarations, risk taking etc,” Westbury wrote.

“Women declare more, & are way more attacking w/ tactics. But we often blame them for draws. Which is utter rubbish. So yeh, my contrib was in a v particular scenario.

“To add to this, best coverage of women’s cricket is by those who look to critique it in the same they would men’s (i.e. it’s cricket!) but are also conscious of the wider context, their limited time w/ a red ball etc.”

Australian cricketer Ellyse Perry also weighed in, cautioning Cornes that rattling off hot takes on the performance of female athletes wasn't exactly what the industry was searching for.

“It’s absolutely necessary for the evolution of women’s sport that objective analysis and criticism is given,” she tweeted.

“I think most female athletes truly welcome this as it validates their or their teams performance and efforts.

“However I think it’s a poor reflection on our viewing population if we think ‘a warpath of criticism’ and overt negativity towards teams or athletes is much watch television.”

Set what would have been a world-record run-chase of 257 runs from 48 overs, England launched an all-out assault on the target late on Sunday afternoon before finishing on 9-245.

With AAP

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