'It's like a virus, it spreads through the team' - Nasser Hussain on England's poor fielding efforts in ongoing Headingly Test

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain expressed his disappointment with the Ben Stokes-led side's fielding against Australia in the third Test of the ongoing Ashes series at Headingley.

Despite having bowled out Australia for 263 in the first innings, England continued to underperform on Day 1 of the third Test. Wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow missed catches of Steve Smith and Travis Head, while Joe Root dropped the catch of Mitchell Marsh when he was batting at 12*. Interestingly, Marsh then hit 118 runs in the match, which was crucial for the Pat Cummins-led side in their first innings.

While speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, Hussain said that dropping catches is like a "virus" that spreads throughout the team. He also mentioned that the best fielders he ever played with were Mark Waugh and Nick Knight, both of whom had soft hands. He added that Bairstow will know he should take it, Root will know he should take it, and those were not so difficult.

"It's like a virus, it spreads through the team. I'm not just talking about in a day, it's in a series - you lose it, you get hard hands. The greatest catchers I played with were Mark Waugh and Nick Knight, and they had soft hands. Jonny Bairstow will know he should be taking that, Joe Root will know he should be taking that - these are not difficult chances, but now it's spreading like a virus," Hussain said.

When actually England are 2-0 down because of those mistakes they've made in the game: Hussain

The former England captain believes that the missed opportunities contributed significantly to the series' overall score. The 55-year-old stated that when England win or lose, it is all about Bazball, and when they are 2-0 down it is because of the mistakes they have made. He acknowledged that what the teams need to focus on is 'attention to detail', and Australia currently have an upper hand in that regards, which is why they are 2-0 ahead in the five-game series.

"You're thinking 'don't come to me, don't come to me', when in the field you should be wanting every ball to come to you. It's been the difference between the sides and it makes me cross because when England win it's all about Bazball, when England lose it's all about Bazball, when actually they're 2-0 down because of those mistakes they've made in the game. It's attention to detail and at the moment Australia have had the better attention to detail, and that's why they're 2-0 up," the former cricketer added.