posted Aug 4, 2008

I think its very interesting when you actually compare the fortunes of Michael Vaughan and Graeme Smith. A breakdown provided on TV of Smiths record shows he averaged 56 in his first year followed by 27 and 36 subsequently with a mightily impressive 60+ this current one. These fluctuations of fortune highlight a point I was trying to make to all those who have written Vaughan off as a test batsman.

The last test also indicated the difference in luck the two are presently sharing. I would suggest Vaughans dismissal in the first innings was dubious purely due to his own reaction and in the second a sharp catch from a full blooded shot inches above the ground ended his tenure at the crease. And Smith? How many times did he play and miss at the start of his second knock? Panesar had him out twice and then of course there was the botched run out. Magnificent innings under the pressure but things could have been so different.

It may prove that time has indeed caught up with Vaughan but I still think he deserved an awful lot better from all his critics in these pages. The same critics who have now suddenly remembered what a quality batsman and great captain he is. During his absence I think we will realise just what an influence he was on the team and, regardless of his batting form, that maybe we are a lesser team without him.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

I believe that he has to rethink how he plays an innings. His cover drives, in particular, have been exquisite but this may be part of the problem: I believe that he is always looking for the big shot rather than building an innings on ones and twos and letting the boundaries come in due course. Let us hope that he solves his problems by playing for Yorkshire. Good luck to him.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

I feel sorry for yorkshire and would be suprised if vaughny even lasts in the squad.
As for the plonker having a go at 'football fans' commenting on cricket, I have never been rude to 606ers before, but comments like that get my goat. Yes I have a football related name but cricket is my main sport and the game I have played to a reasonable level (cut short incidently through injury problems)and is my first love. I wasnt having a go at vaughny in my earlier comments. It was and is my opinion that he should have gone a while back and was clearly struggling which is as unfair to the player as it is to the team. he was no longer the player he was or captain for that matter. current series is testament to that. He looked lost. I also believe the 2005 ashes win was a fluke, simon jones was unheard of before and will not be the player he was then. Flintoff will be ruined because he has heart and passion and never says no. The top order have created problems for the bowlers who cannot take 20 wickets when the score is 200 odd and defensive fields set. Mking a huge total on a flat pitch which ended in a draw does not make this point invalid. Making big scores cosistently and on all wickets is what will do this.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

With respect to the comment concerning the 2005 Ashes I can't see how any victory claimed over 5 matches with each match theoretically lasting 6 hours a day for 5 days could ever be described as a fluke. We played exceptionally well, the Aussies were probably slightly below par and we enjoyed all the key moments of luck. Unfortunately injuries, retirements and inconsistent form means we haven't approached those heights since.

The last test in the current series was eventually won as a result of a magnificent, almost single handed effort, by their captain. We shouldn't forget that Panesar had him out twice and we botched a strightforward run out...the result could have been very different.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

What are the chances of history repeating itself and Vaughan coming back as captain part way through an Ashes series after the 'star player' made captain has lost form due to the presure? Think Brealey/Botham 1981.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

Best Wishes to Michael Vaughan. A true gentleman and talented sportsman. Still had more to offer as skipper, but as usual burocracy has led to the demise of a talented and upstanding individual. Needed more runs, but a bad trot shouldn't lead to resignation. My views on the selectors and management team are not printable here, but they should carry the can.

When I met MV shortly after the 2005 series he was polite, erudite and not at all big-headed. Good Luck and thanks for re-establishing my enthusiasm for English cricket over the last 5 years.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

Given that the selectors have consistently made bad decisions in recent years, it is almost a certainty that Pietersen will be made captain.

I sincerely hope I am wrong, as do many others it would seem, looking at the Setanta Sports poll.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

Further to the above I agree that Vaughan has been a good captain and would probably still be a good captain if he had a team to support him.

Pattinson was probably the final straw (nothing against the player) where Vaughan was quite obviously out of the loop and was as confused by the selection as anyone.

Unfortunately the pressure of leading a team that is largely not fit for purpose has finally got to him. I hope that after a bit of R&R he will at least return to the team as a player.

My own choice for captain probably lacks logic given his dodgy form at the moment. However, Andrew Straus made a good job of it before and many thought he should not have lost it on Vaughan's return. It may well have been better for Vaughan as well.

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posted Aug 4, 2008

Spot on Oakley 17! The 05 Ashes were won by a team in which 4 pace bowlers, at the top of their individual games, dovetailed beautifully. The Aussies best bowler? Warney! Our pace attack hit them like they hadn't been hit before for a long time.
Sadly, the wheels started coming off even before the series was finished (Jones not making the 5th test), & went downhill from there on.

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posted Aug 5, 2008

Thankyou Michael, regardless of what anyone does, no1 will ever forget that you guided us to victory against the Aussies and you were the batsmen that they were most scared of in the world. Watching Vaughan score runs is the most enjoyable cricket i have ever witnessed, the innings that will always stay with me is the 197 against India, sheer class. I will bet with any man woman or child that Vaughan scores another test century in the future!!!!!!!!

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