Vaughan, but will not be Forgotten

On Tuesday 30th June it is widely expected that Michael Vaughan, arguably England's greatest ever captain, will hold a press conference to confirm his retirement from First Class cricket after 16 years in the game.

Born in Manchester, Vaughan made his Yorkshire debut in 1993 and his England debut in 1999 when he came to the crease as England's 600th Test Match player with the score at 2 for 2 against the South Africans and stood at the non strikers end while the score line became 2 for 4 before he faced his first ball. Vaughan stroked 33 in the calm and assured manner that was to become one of his trademarks. Stylish, graceful and elegant, to see Michael Vaughan in full flow became one of the great pleasures of an English summer and to watch him drive through the covers or swivel onto a pull over mid wicket to see all that was good about English cricket. Vaughan would go on to play for England 82 times and score 5719 runs including 18 hundreds, with an average above 40. In his first class career he amassed over 16000 runs including 42 scores of one hundred or more.

For all that Vaughan did over the course of his career, however, he will be forever remembered for his two career defining performances in back to back Ashes Series, first as a batsman in 2002/2003 and then as a captain in 2005.

Vaughan travelled down under in 2002 on the back of a domestic summer which had yielded 900 runs in seven Test matches against Sri Lanka and India, including four hundreds with two scores of 190+ against India. I was at the Oval when Vaughan was dismissed for 195, following his score of 197 two Tests earlier, prompting a man close by to muse somewhat sarcastically, "Good player this Vaughan. Struggles in the 190s though." This was tongue in cheek of course as by this stage the cricketing nation had taken Michael Vaughan to their hearts, due not only to the weight of runs he had scored, but the sumptuous strokeplay he had used to get them. It had been a long, long time since England had a batsman capable of dominating attacks and making it look so effortless in the process. Choruses of “Michael Vaughan my Lord, Michael Vaughan” to the tune of Kumbayah had already begun to ring round the Oval.

In the five Test Ashes Series that followed Vaughan scored over 600 runs including 3 centuries, propelling him to the top of the official World ranking during a spell where he “touched greatness” as a batsman. He was the first tourist to score over 600 runs against Australia in Australia for over 30 years, the first Englishman to score 3 centuries against them since Chris Broad and the first English to top the World rankings since Graeme Gooch. He left Australia as the sole player to have left his mark on the Australians, a fact that went a considerable way to securing his position as captain of the English one day side ahead of the vice captain Marcus Trescothick. A score of 153 against the South Africans cemented Vaughan’s place as test captain when Hussain stepped down in the following match.

Vaughan would go on to captain the England side in 51 Test Matches and win a record 26 making him, statistically, the most successful captain in English cricket history. Vaughan’s success owed much to the work of his predecessor Nasser Hussain and the measures he began to put in place along with Duncan Fletcher, centrals contacts being the most important. 2004 saw Vaughan lead an England side to an undefeated year including a record 8 straight wins, beating the West Indies in The Caribbean, winning all seven home Test Matches that summer and then beating South Africa away from home for the first time since 1965. This run of form catapulted England to number two in the ICC World rankings, setting up a 1st versus 2nd clash in the most eagerly anticipated series, perhaps, ever, the 2005 Ashes. And we all know how that ended, after a crushing defeat at Lords followed "The Greatest Test" at Edgbaston, probably the most famous draw in English cricket history at Old Trafford, a win at Trentbridge and the most important toss of Vaughan's career at the Oval which allowed him to bat first and watch Kevin Pietersen bat the Aussies out of the game. MBE's all round an OBE for Vaughan and the hope that he would continue to lead England into a previously unknown period of dominance.

However, that wasn't to be as at the beginning of the Pakistan tour Vaughan twisted his knee in a warm up game. He recovered in time to play in the 2nd and 3rd Tests but was not the batsman we knew and flew home for surgery instead of staying on the the One Day Series. He flew to India after Christmas but was back on a plane to England before the 1st Test and wouldn't play again until May 2007 when he returned to captain the side on his home ground Headingly and scored a composed 103 to the delight of all in the land. Mike Selvey of The Guardian described the innings as a "masterpiece", and said "Vaughan came as close to perfection as ever he can have done."

Sadly though this represented a false dawn. Vaughan continued in the side for another year or so, passing 5000 Test runs, winning a series away in New Zealand and notching up his 18th and final Test century in the return leg in England, but poor form in the 2nd half of the 2008 summer against South Africa resulted in an emotional resignation from the England captaincy after 5 years in charge. He has not played for England since and the omission from the 2009 Ashes squad sounded the death knell for Vaughan's international career. His retirement from all first class cricket may seem a little extreme, but when you have touched the heights that Vaughan has during his career it must be impossible to motivate a 34 year old body with knackered knees to rejoin the county treadmill. Nasser Hussain believes that the timing of Vaughan's announcement is perfect as it will allow new captain Strauss and new number three Bopara to settle into their roles with less pressure. Kevin Pietersen describes it as a typically selfless act from a great man who knew the right thing to do tactics-wise when he was captain, and when he batted, on numerous occasions.

Life after cricket should present Vaughan with no shortage of opportunities. Sky Sports will almost certainly come calling, a newspaper column would be essential reading even if only for the Ashes, he has his property, his wine and his golf which his knees should just about allow him to continue playing. Whatever he does in the future he will walk away from English cricket with his head held high and forever retain a special place in the hearts of English cricket fans across the country. We will all remember with fondness all that Vaughany brought to our game. Thanks for everything Michael, it's been a pleasure.

Ashes 2009 Squads Part 2 - The English

As promised yesterday here follows a run down of the English candidates for the training squad which will now be announced on Monday 22nd June, not Saturday 20th as previously advised.

The England selectors will on Monday the 22nd June announce an extended training squad of up to 17 players for the upcoming Ashes series before deciding on the final 12 or 13 man squad which will go into battle in Cardiff on July 8th. Here we'll have a look at the probable candidates for the squad, starting with what is likely to be the Test XI.

1. Andrew Strauss - Captain, opening batsman and therefore, along with Pietersen, will be the wicket the Aussies will covet the most. He needs to continue the good form he has shown against the West Indies of late and stamp some authority on England’s innings much as he and Trescothick did on day one at Edgbaston in 2005. Slip catching will be vital.

2. Alastair Cook - Often accused of getting out too easily after making a start, despite having an average of 45 with 9 hundreds and 19 fifties to his name and being the youngest English batsmen to reach 1000, 2000 and 3000 Test match runs. At twenty four he has one Ashes series behind him already and, if he can play to his potential this summer, he could end up as England's star performer. A much improved fielder which will be crucial in the cordon or under the helmet at short leg.

3. Ravi Bopara - Cook's Essex counterpart, Bopara is having his second crack at Test Match cricket after a disastrous first attempt in Sri Lanka. His fortunes this time around could not have been more different and for the first time since another Essex man announced his second coming in 1997, England should have found a genuine number three for the long term.

4. Kevin Pietersen - No player on either side needs a special series quite as much as this man. He’ll want to put the first half of 2009 behind him and show everyone that Kevin Pietersen is still a world class batsman. An article in a recent free magazine hailed KP as “the greatest English batsman of all time.” Nonsense of course, but he has the potential to be one of the best ever. He still has a lot to do before that happens though, and needs a big series this summer to silence his critics.

5. Paul Collingwood - Steady but unspectacular batsman, steady but unspectacular bowler and excellent fielder, although I'm beginning to lose count of the number of times I've heard commentators say, "Ooh, he doesn't drop many" immediately after he has put down a catch. One of the, if not the only, stand out performer on the ill fated 2006/2007 tour Colly may well have to once again be the backbone of England’s batting effort if the flair players at three and four fail.

6. Matt Prior - Will go in at number six and could just about hold a place there without his keeping, which will itself be under intense scrutiny this summer. Geraint Jones just about got away with a catalogue of mistakes in 2005, Matt Prior might not be so lucky in 2009. James Foster's peerless display behind the stumps in the Twenty 20 World Cup should have served as a wake up call.

7. Andrew Flintoff - For a long time following the 2005 Ashes I was of the opinion that the England side looked better without Flintoff. That is no longer the case. If fit he has to play and will bat at seven. We just have to hope he acts as talisman and not a disruption, and the opposition see fiery Fred not friendly Fred. Even if his batting form continues to desert him his bowling and catching and the effect he should have in lifting the home crowd make him worth his place. Don't expect a repeat of his 2005 heroics though, that Freddie has gone.

8. Stuart Broad - A rapidly improving young cricketer, this series will be a big challenge for the youngster but one that he looks like he is ready to meet head on. His contribution with the bat at number eight could be invaluable.

9. Graeme Swann - Moved above Panesar in the pecking order during the West Indies tour and hasn't looked back. Now more or less established as England's number one spinner, Swann offers more guile and variation than Monty, can add useful runs from nine and is a very competent fielder in the deep or in the gully.

10. James Anderson - "The Burnley Express" will lead England’s bowling attack this summer and go head to head with Mitchell Johnston for the bragging rights as number one pace bowler in the series. At only 26 Jimmy has already been around for what seems like forever and if the ball swings for him he will be England’s main weapon.

11. Graeme Onions - Surely did enough in his first two Test matches to merit inclusion in the starting XI ahead of Sidebottom and Harmison. Not much to say other than “more of the same please.”

12. Tim Bresnan - Deserved his call up to the Test side for the West Indies and was unlucky not to get more of an opportunity to shine. Should remain in the squad as back up for Flintoff. Only other genuine all rounder in the squad, although as yet untested at this level.

13. Ian Bell - Started the domestic season with a bang but has faded away of late. Should find himself in the squad of seventeen but is up against competition from Shah, Vaughan and Key, probably in that order. There may be room for Bell and one of the latter three, if the selectors go for one keeper. If not, Bell should just pip the others.

14. Adil Rashid - The much hyped Yorkshire youngster has been spoken about as a Test prospect for two years now, but wary of over exposure too young has been held back. It seems now the time is right for him to step up and while he may not play in a Test match this summer, if Swann gets injured or loses form he could be given his debut.

15. Steve Harmison - One of only four players to have passed the 50 wicket mark in first class cricket this year, reports are that Harmison is back to his hostile best. The last thing the Australians want is a fit and firing Steve Harmison with a new ball in his hand so don’t rule him out, although at this stage he is in the reserve list behind his Durham teammate Onions.

16. Ryan Sidebottom - Sidebottom’s inclusion perhaps makes the reserve list bowler heavy, but the three are so different they all need to be in the selector’s thoughts. Spin from Rashid, raw pace and bounce from Harmison and Sidebottom comes in offering a different angle of attack from left arm over the wicket and brings swing. Perhaps question marks over his fitness for the five day stuff, but should be included.

17. James Foster* - This is a tough one. Will they go for Foster to keep Prior on his toes, or will they play safe and have an extra batsman? I’d like to see Foster given a shot as if Prior doesn’t score runs he shouldn’t be in the side, simple as that, and this man should come in.

*It could be argued that the squad listed above is perhaps a batsman light. On the assumption that Ian Bell will be named, that leaves four likely candidates for the last remaining place should the selectors decide to go for that option rather than the extra keeper.

Owais Shah - Has probably had his last chance for now, but will be on the fringes and may take the last place ahead of the candidates below as the “safe” option.

Robert Key - I would love to see Robert Key be given another chance at Test cricket, but sadly can’t see it happening. For whatever reason he seems to be English cricket’s forgotten man.

Michael Vaughan -Very unlikely you’d think, but stranger things have happened. Remember Darren Pattinson?

Ian Blackwell - Watch out. Since his move to the North East Blackwell has been on fire and offers something with the ball too. If the selectors are feeling adventurous you never know.

Ashes 2009 Squads Part 1 - The Australians

Courtesy of Blaise Murphet at http://www.worldcricketwatch.com/ a detailed look at this summer's touring Australian Squad.

"Ashes 2009 - The Australian Touring Party . . .

Does anyone else feel that the Australian selectors have taken a ‘if we pick a safe team, we’ll probably win’ approach?? Where is the spark? Where are the ‘X Factors’ apart from Mitchell Johnson? Let’s break down the squad and see if we can’t find an Aussie win.

First we’ll analyse the likely first test line-up:

1. Phillip Hughes – an exiting prospect, and could well be a Hayden-ready replacement. But, so inexperienced! Yes, he had a fantastic series in South Africa, and he’s impressed mightily in the County Championship, but the Ashes are a serious test. A lot will depend on which opening bowlers England select, but Hughes does have a lot of upside."
(continue reading…)

I will be following up tomorrow with a look at the certainties, the probables, the possibles and the "you never knows" for the English team ahead of the extended squad announcement on Saturday.

Ponting Towards the Ashes

"Aussie Aussie Aussie, Out Out Out!!!" This was the gleeful text message I received in the immediate aftermath of Australia's defeat to Sri Lanka which sent them crashing out of the T20 World Cup. My thoughts? Ha, yeah well yes. Yes they are out, there's no denying it. The Australians will not be winning this year's T20 World Cup. Or is it the 20/20 World Cup? Or the Twenty20 World Cup? Or the Ttwenty... you get the point. Who really gives a XXXX? Ricky Ponting's post match interview left me in little doubt. The answer? Not them anyway. Not really. Of course he stated genuine disappointment at not having performed as well as we all know they can, of course they would have loved to have won, but deep down there was only one thing on his mind. The knowing smile and the glint in the eye when Ian Chappell asked about the upcoming you-know-what spoke volumes. Don't get me wrong, the Australians won’t laugh this defeat off. They won't be thinking "Fantastic two weeks break, bring back Roy and we'll have a few nights on the fizz before the proper stuff starts!” No no. Talks will have been had for sure, but they will have been calm, measured, constructive and with a greater prize in mind. The response to my friend's goading message was simple. "Beware the wounded Tiger." Make no mistake, the 2009 Australian cricket team are on these shores for one reason and one reason only.

Ricky Ponting made his first Ashes tour to England in 1997 as a 22 year old learning the ropes. But even by that stage he had already more or less established himself in the one day side and been schooled as a 20 year old on the 1995 tour to the West Indies, which many, if not most, mark as the turning point in world cricket which derailed the West Indian juggernaut, and signalled the beginning of the great Australian period of true dominance. Ponting played little on that tour but as a young, hungry cricketer it was the perfect time to learn about he game and the greater significance of the Baggy Green. His time on the sidelines with Justin Langer made them both determined that once they had that cap on their heads, they were not letting it go without a fight. And how right that proved. Yet ten years later there they both were at the Oval, looking on helplessly as England whooped and hollered and drank (and drank, and drank) in celebration of their success in wrestling the greatest prize in cricket away from them. This was not to be allowed to happen again. To read Ricky Ponting's Captains Diary of 2007 is to read the sporting equivalent of a self help, self motivation, "How to Succeed and Make a $million" business bible. This charts the journey from infamous boot camp to 5-0 whitewash through the eyes of the man who did more than most to make it happen. One man does not make a team, particularly when that team included Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath, but Ponting was the heartbeat and the drive behind it all. Within the first one hundred pages of that book, while we were still on the build up to the Gabba, days and weeks before Harmy's (worst) ball of the century, it was clear that only one team was going to win the 2006/2007 Ashes.

The 2009 Ashes, however, are a different matter. Gone are the openers, Haydos and Alfie, averaging 50 and 45 respectively with 53 test hundreds between them. Gone is Gilly, and what do you say about him? Stats don't even matter (96 matches, 5570 runs at nearly 48 with a strike rate a fraction under 82 and 406 dismissals, seeing as you ask) who can replace him? And then there you have Warne and McGrath. Enough said really. But, who do we have still there? Looking around wondering where all his mates have gone, perhaps thinking in hindsight that he should have joined them in retirement and allowed Michael Clarke to take over the reigns with a two and a half year lead in period to this years Ashes. Yep, Ricky. He's still here. 6th Ashes, 3rd as captain, World's best batsmen (as of 12th June 2009 the official rankings have him at 6th, but if you believe that 5 others, including Gautam Gambir, are better batsmen you're as deluded as Paul Collingwood was when he thought he could out-sledge Shane Warne) but he has one empty space on his CV. With 10,000+ runs, an average approaching sixty, 37 centuries, 4 Allan Border medals, 3 world cups, a 3 times Australian test player of the year he has already achieved pretty much everything there is to in the game and is set to break all batting records before he retires. He is also an Australian Ashes winning captain. But, crucially, he is also an Australian Ashes losing captain, and that is what 2009 is all about.

As 11am on 8th July approaches the question a great many doubters are asking is this, "Is Ricky Ponting a good captain, or is he just a great batsman who had the luxury of a world beating, once in a life time, team?" This is something Ponting is well used to having had to deal with these thoughts ever since taking over from Steve Waugh, who had similar accusations and doubts thrown at him. To follow Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh is a tough ask for anyone but Pontng has answered his critics with runs, runs, more runs and most importantly, victories. Never has there been a moment where his place has been in doubt. A Test career average of 57.58 increased to 75 since assuming one day captaincy in 2002, and his success ratio as captain is better than any of his predecessors with just 8 more victories required to hold the record for number of test match wins.

The same doubters will argue once more that of course he has these stats as captain with Hayden, Langer, Gilly, Warne and McGrath in tow, but how do they explain this batting average? I'll explain it, it's not difficult, he thrives on the captaincy and leads from the front. Cricket captaincy isn't always all about imaginative field placing or being the guy clapping and shouting the loudest, sometimes it's just about setting the right example at training, in your attitude and preparation, what you say and how you carry yourself on tour and in the dressing room and, once the game starts, leading from the front with the bat, ball or in the field. It won’t be easy this Ashes series and any talks of 5-0 for either side are ludicrous, but in Ricky Ponting Australia have no better man to lead them in their quest to retain the Ashes.

Shane Warne made no secret of the fact that he would have retired after the 2005 Ashes had they been won, but he stayed on for 18 months to reclaim them down under. Ponting is one year younger now than Warne was in 2005 so this will not necessarily be his last Ashes series, but it will almost certainly be his last in England. So it's now or never for the man from Launceston to complete the ultimate cricketing CV, and it would take a brave punter to bet against him doing just that.

This article can also be seen at http://worldcricketwatch.com/ashes-2009/ashes-series-2009-the-captaincy-of-ricky-ponting/

Craig Wright retires from International Cricket

Craig Wright, former Scotland cricket captain and one of the, if not the, most influential figures in Scottish cricket over the last decade has stepped down from international cricket. Craig was the figurehead and poster boy for Scottish cricket during the re branding to Scottish Saltires that came with inclusion in the English domestic one day set up and led the side to victory in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup and and 2005 ICC Trophy. It was under his watch that Cricket Scotland laid the groundwork for the side becoming the leading Associate nation and although poor showings of late have seen that position slide, Craig's personal contribution to the side in terms of experience, late order runs and most crucially his tight bowling and wicket taking ability countinued to be of the highest standard and cannot be underestimated. He will now concentrate on club duties with Greenock, coaching the Scotland u-17 and u-19 sides and his full time role as Cricket Scotland performance development manager. I'm sure all in Scottish Cricket would wish Craig all the best for the future and thank him for everything he has helped to achieve since his debut in 1997.

The full article can be found here http://www.cricketscotland.com/WrightRetires