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| May 7, 2003 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1424 |
Vaughan England’s one-day captain
LONDON, May 6: Leading batsman Michael Vaughan has been appointed as England’s new one-day captain, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
The Yorkshire batsman takes over from Test skipper Nasser Hussain, who resigned from his one-day responsibilities after England failed to progress beyond the first round of this year’s World Cup in southern Africa.
The 28-year-old opener, who made his One-day International debut against Sri Lanka in 2001, will lead the team in 10 one-day matches at home later this year but there will be no time limit on his captaincy.
Vaughan, who skippered an England ‘A’ tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1998-99, was given the captaincy ahead of rival candidates Adam Hollioake and Marcus Trescothick.
“As well as being a world class batsman, Michael is a strong character with a sound cricketing brain,” said David Graveney, chairman of the selectors.
Vaughan added: “To lead your country is a great achievement and it’s a chance for us to start afresh although I believe we were only one wicket away (in losing to Australia) from reaching the World Cup semifinals.
“My batting shouldn’t be affected. When you’re out in the middle you’re concentrating on that white ball and nothing else.”
Hollioake has already had one spell as one-day skipper, leading England to victory at the 1997 Champions Trophy tournament in Sharjah before losing the job two years later.
Vaughan was one of the few success stories for England in their 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia at the turn of the year, with his three centuries earning him the player-of-the-series award.
It followed a successful 2002 English season when he scored four Test hundreds.
Meanwhile, Rodney Marsh, the former Australian wicket-keeper, has been appointed as an England selector.
Marsh has been England’s Academy coach, responsible for nurturing up-and-coming international players, since it was formed in 2001.
He replaces Hussain on the four-man selection panel.
Hussain said, in a newspaper column on Sunday, he was quitting as a selector because the current home programme of seven Tests meant he had little chance to observe England prospects in county cricket.
By contrast, Marsh’s Academy role already requires him to watch county matches so combining both jobs should not be a problem.
Marsh, 55, has an enviable record as a talent-spotter. He was in charge of the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, where several members of the leading Test and 2003 World Cup-winning team were groomed, before being invited to set up its English equivalent.
Marsh joins Graveney, England coach Duncan Fletcher and former England off-spinner Geoff Miller on the selection panel.
His initial selectorial task will be to help pick a squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe, at Lord’s, starting on May 22.—Reuters/AFP
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