Ashes defeat: Australian WAGs hit back at critics

The Distractions: Wives and girlfriends of the Australian cricket team hit back. Photo / Instagram / Anna Weatherlake

Following the Australian cricket team's disastrous loss to England during the Ashes series earlier this month, fans and former players turned to the wives and girlfriends when looking for someone to blame.

With famed commentator Ian Healy suggesting the result was due to the presence of the WAGs on tour, they wasted no time hitting back at the claims.

Anna Weatherlake, fiance of player Peter Siddle, posted a photo to her Instagram account overnight, featuring herself and seven of the wives and girlfriends, captioning it "the distractions".

The glamorous blonde followed up her caption with a series of hash tags that made light of the accusation: #akaLEGENDS, #distractions4lyf, #anothertourdone and #laterslondon.

Fans and friends were quick to comment on the photo, which featured Weatherlake alongside fellow WAGs Lee Furlong, Melissa Waring, Sam Nelson, Dani Willis, Kristy Voges and Isabelle Platt.

"Healy would hate this photo," one user wrote.

"The real power behind the guys. Go get 'em girls," another said.

Australian cricketer James Pattinson's fiance, Kayla Dickson also commented on the image.

"Yes funny how the boys won the last test even though you girls were still distracting them,' Dickson wrote.

Healy, uncle of Australian women's cricket player, Alyssa Healy, caused controversy with his statement after the team was bowled out for 60 in 18.3 overs...the shortest innings ever recorded in a Test match.

"All their partners are here and some of the most respected cricketers I played with hated that distraction...they weren't allowed on tour until after the series had been won," he told Australian TV.

"Your mind needs to be completely focused on it. Cricket is a sport that requires complete concentration. You need everything going for you and I'm not sure they're pushing for that hard enough."

The number of wives and girlfriends travelling on the team's Tour of the British Isles had continued to grow with some new younger additions as well.

According to Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricket Team has become a very "family-friendly" environment, with the travelling party now including 28 children.

- Daily Mail