The beleaguered England Coach Duncan Fletcher has stated that Michael Vaughan won't be considered for the remaining Ashes tests. Vaughan, who is due to play in a two day match against Western Australia on Saturday had high hopes of playing in the Melbourne test on Boxing Day. Those England fans who had banked on Vaughan returning and saving the series are bound to be disappointed.
Many might have considered Vaughan's return to be the silver bullet that would strike at the heart of Australia's confidence. However, his coach has said that without match fitness he won't even be in the running for a return. Whilst England desperately need this Ashes winning captain back at the helm, if he was fit it would produce a selection dilemma of its own.
Looking at the batting order there doesn't seem an obvious target to replace. Whilst both Cook & Strauss haven't had the best of starts to the series everyone is confident that they will 'come good' and with Ian Bell in such fine form the No.3 slot is unlikely.
Vaughan is traditionally an opener. He only dropped down the order to allow Strauss to continue opening. He could bat at 4 and move KP to 5 but it still leaves a tough decision over who you would drop. Certainly you couldn't release Paul Collingwood when he is in such fine nick.
With this quandary spinning around in his mind, Fletcher has taken the easy option and ruled Vaughan out. In truth, it would be too much a gamble to play Vaughan, even batting right down the order. Whilst I am certain he is eager to get back in the saddle, no right-minded person would want to come back when his team are already 2-0 down. And what if he failed? Imagine dropping Cook (for example) and Vaughan copped a pair on his return!
No, I think this one one decision that Duncan Fletcher has called right. There is to be no silver bullet. England already have a squad from which to select eleven players fit enough and good enough to take on the Aussies.
2 comments:
Yes, it pains me to agree. Being a massive Vaughan fan my heart does suggest he is the magic England need, but this series has proved, sadly, that you can't come straight out of injury back in to top class cricket without being exposed.
Hi Sahil...Nice blog you have there. I shall keep my eye on it. I agree that this series has indeed shown that yoy can't jump straight back in after injury. I think England have 11 players in the squad or are both able and match-fit. The trouble is that some aren't getting picked!
Post a Comment