July 31, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424

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LONDON, July 30: New England Test captain Michael Vaughan moved quickly to dispel the notion on Wednesday that he would lack the authority and toughness required to lead the team successfully.

Vaughan, speaking at a news conference at Lord’s on the eve of the second Test against South Africa, said: “Most people know I’m quite relaxed but on the pitch I expect a focused team which is working to the same goal.

“But I think if you can get them relaxed and enjoying their cricket you’ll get the better rewards from them.

“I’m pretty competitive and I expect players to play that way as well. There will be times when I have to have harsh words with the team, that’s part of the job, but you have to consider every individual need.”

Vaughan took over as Test captain after Nasser Hussain surprisingly quit at the end of the first Test at Edgbaston.

Hussain said he felt stale after his four-year tenure but also suggested that his more authoritarian style of leadership might no longer be suitable after Vaughan adopted an easy-going style with the England one-day side. Hussain said the team seemed to be having more fun under Vaughan.

Vaughan added: “I’m a believer that the other 10 in the team also have to think. Whether it’s the youngest guy or the oldest, I’ll consider all their ideas.

“I guess captaining over five days will be mentally tougher and more tiring but I think I am ready for the job.

“I’m really excited to lead what is most of the side which I captained in the one-dayers.”

He did not think he would have any problems with Hussain remaining in the team, adding he would gladly accept advice from both him — “he has a fantastic cricketing brain” — and former captain Alec Stewart and senior player Mark Butcher.

Vaughan said Hussain looked as if he had a “huge weight taken off his shoulders” after relinquishing the captaincy, adding: “I have just told him to enjoy his cricket and go out and score some runs.”

He added he was not worried that the extra responsibility would affect his own batting — Vaughan made 156 in the first innings at Edgbaston as England battled to save the game.

Asked how the home side had to improve after the first Test, Vaughan said: “By getting Graeme Smith out (he made 277 in a first innings of 594 for five declared).”

He argued England had not bowled well — “perhaps they got a little carried away after the one-dayers” — but had still done well to save the game after having the trickier of the batting conditions.

But he conceded: “We had a plan for South Africa at Edgbaston, so we put that in the bin — we’ll have to start afresh this afternoon.”

South African captain Smith endorsed Vaughan’s appointment. “He is probably the right man to take England forward,” he said.

“He has done well in Australia which is a tough thing to do as a batsman against a great bowling attack.

“He must have a great deal of mental strength, I am sure he will be fine, he is a fantastic cricketer.”

Of Hussain’s decision to quit, Smith said: “I don’t take pleasure from other people’s misery or hard times. But as a team we put in a great performance and that makes me feel good.

“It is probably a brave decision that Hussain quit. If he felt it was the right time it was probably the right time.”

Smith won a good toss on a placid Edgbaston pitch that favoured batsmen and dented the hopes of fast bowlers.

But he and opening partner Herschelle Gibbs (179) made the most of it. And unlike England, Smith could always call on his immediate predecessor Shaun Pollock to give him some much needed control in the field.

New-ball spearhead Pollock took just two wickets in the match but was a constant threat to England’s batsmen with his accuracy and Smith said: “Shaun Pollock bowled superbly. People said he had lost pace and passion but I think he was the best bowler in the match.

“All he needs now is a bit of luck and a few edges.”

Hussain’s resignation obscured the fact that England struggled to avoid the follow-on.

Meanwhile their bowlers only took nine wickets in the match against a South African team that was without Jacques Kallis, the Proteas’ star batsman, who will remain in Cape Town and miss the second Test as well after the death of his father Henry from lung cancer.

Despite England’s problems, South Africa’s attack — Pollock and Makhaya Ntini excepted — remains inexperienced and it will be a test of their resolve if they have to bowl first at Lord’s.

Teams (from):

England: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Anthony McGrath, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, James Kirtley.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson, Dewald Pretorius, Charl Willoughby, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams, Andrew Hall, Neil McKenzie.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—Reuters/AFP