Manchester: The management was criticized by former Australia captain Steve Waugh for leaving off-spinner Todd Murphy out of the starting lineup for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

While England cut the lead in the ongoing five-match series to 1-2, Murphy, who filled in for the injured Nathan Lyon for the third Test in Leeds, struggled to capture wickets.

Australia entered the match with an all-out pace attack in hopes of stopping England from winning in Manchester and tying the series. Waugh, meanwhile, believes that Australia erred by passing on Murphy.

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"I tend to disagree with it. I think it's a mistake, particularly in Manchester where the ball does turn. I know they're probably looking at the forecast and saying there's a bit of rain around, but you do need variation in the attack. Particularly with the way England plays," told Waugh, who played 168 Tests for Australia.

If Australia doesn't get enough runs, in Waugh's opinion, England may tie the series in Manchester.

"They go at the bowlers really hard and we've got four right-arm quick bowlers so there's a bit of sameness about our attack. But if the wicket is pretty flat and we haven't got too much up our sleeve, I think England will probably like the sight of the four right-arm quick bowlers," he added.

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Chris Woakes led England's pace attack on Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test with 4-52 in 18.5 overs, while Stuart Broad took 2-68 in 14 to reach a historic 600 Test wickets.

Australia was 299/8 at stumps on Day 1 as Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh each scored 51.

Although England have won at Old Trafford in 13 of their last 16 Test matches, they haven't won the Ashes there since Ian Botham's magnificent century in 1981.

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