JOIN USAustralia's indiscipline is costing them dear in the Ashes and players are making decisions for themselves rather than the team, bemused former England fast bowler Darren Gough said on Saturday.
Gough was at the home of cricket to watch the first two days and declared himself "amazed" at Australia's first-innings capitulation for 128.
"The way they batted was absolutely remarkable," he told Reuters in an interview while attending the third day of the British Open at Muirfield.
"Australia had bowled England out for 361 and they should have been all set to come out and dominate. When opener Shane Watson was out in the last over before lunch and reviewed it, that was a terrible decision by him.
"I think that's the problem for Australia - they are more worried about their own personal performances than the team.
"(Captain) Michael Clarke reviewed both his decisions in the first Test and they were wrong, Watson has also reviewed so many decisions in recent Test matches. It just goes to show they're not using the review system well."
Gough, who took 229 wickets at an average of 28.39 in 58 Test appearances for England between 1994-2003, said leading batsmen got themselves out on Friday.
"(Usman) Khawaja, Watson, (Phil) Hughes, there were some poor shots all day and it's been a problem for Australia this season," he said after hosting a Q&A session with golf's former world number one Nick Faldo in the MasterCard Club at Muirfield.
"I thought the Ashes series was going to be really close but the way Australia have batted in both Tests has been a huge disappointment. If you take out the number 11’s (Ashton Agar) 98 in the Nottingham Test, they would have lost in three and a half days," said the 42-year-old Gough.
Former England great Ian Botham forecast a 5-0 victory for the hosts at the start of the series and Gough is starting to feel that result is a distinct possibility. "I thought that was a bit of a joke when people said that before the series but now I'm starting to believe it myself," he said.