Murray queries team-mates' commitment

OUT of the World Group, and also apparently at odds with each other. Great Britain's Davis Cup team lost 3-2 to Austria yesterday, with Alex Bogdanovic going down 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 2-6 to Alexander Peya in the decisive rubber after Andy Murray had beaten Jurgen Melzer.

The immediate consequence of that defeat is relegation to Euro-Africa Zone One, but there could be longer-lasting repercussions as well if the understandable feelings of disappointment are allowed to deepen into serious disaffection. Murray, for one, appeared dejected after winning both his singles matches but watching his brother Jamie and Ross Hutchins lose their doubles match, and Bogdanovic lose both his ties.

He demands high standards of himself, and insisted that, while he was committed to representing his country in the competition, he wanted to see the same commitment from his teammates. "Every time I play the Davis Cup I get fired up," the 21-year-old said. "A lot of people were disputing whether I enjoy playing for my country – you could see I do.

"If I'm going to make the sacrifice to play in the Davis Cup, then I want every single person in the team making that sacrifice and saying they're going to give everything they've got," he continued. "I want them to say they're going to come to the tie physically able to play, even if they have to play three days, five-set matches. I want everyone in the team able to do that. Then I know everyone in the team wants to win as badly as I do.

"I hope that's the case. If I don't feel that, that's what will demotivate me, I guess. The guys in the other matches did not get the crowd involved in the ways I'd like to have seen."

The Scot did not single anyone out for criticism, but, having reached No 4 in the world thanks in part to some seriously hard work in the gym, he is entitled to ask if his team-mates could be doing more themselves. But Murray is also experienced enough to know that talent has something to do with it as well as sheer graft, and the reality is that Bogdanovic could spend every hour that God sends pumping iron without coming close to the top 20.

The British No 2 has yet to win a live rubber in the Davis Cup, and there was a painful sense of inevitability about his defeat yesterday. Both Murray brothers were absent from courtside for the latter stages of Bogdanovic's match, but Andy denied a charge that, either then or at other times throughout the weekend, the Great Britain bench had shown a lack of team spirit.

He said he had gone indoors to watch the match on a monitor, as that provided a better vantage point than the ground-level seats used by the teams. He then added: "The bench were good, very good, in my match. I don't think what the bench are doing is why the team wins or loses a match."

Indeed. Why Britain loses matches such as this one is that the team lacks the requisite depth. It is the only nation to have competed in every Davis Cup, and with nine wins is the third most successful country, alongside France, in the history of the competition. But history is very much the operative word when we are talking about British victories in the tournament: the last time it won the title was way back in 1936.

Its improved record over the past decade or so was due to the emergence at the same time of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, world-class singles players who could also combine to good effect in doubles. Now, with those two gone, the lack of singles talent below Andy Murray is painfully evident.

Compare that with Austria, who have now survived in the World Group for the past five years. Their No 1, Melzer, is currently 41st in the world rankings, and has never been higher than No 28. Their No 2, Peya, is at 164, and has only briefly been in the top 100.

The fact they have a world-class doubles specialist in Julian Knowle is an advantage, but the doubles only count for one point. In order to be competitive, they have relied on their singles players punching above their weight.

That is exactly what Britain will have to do if they are to get into the World Group and then stay there. Andy Murray cannot guarantee two singles wins every match; and he and Jamie together are no dead certs if they play together in the doubles. Indeed, the younger brother suggested another doubles specialist in addition to Jamie would be required just as much as a second singles player able to compete at a higher level than Bogdanovic can manage.

"We need a second singles player, and you have to have a very good doubles team as well. Jamie and I played better doubles together a few years ago, but we've hardly played because he's been playing with other people."