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| April 07, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1428 |
Vaughan ready to pitch forgotten man
ST JOHN’S (Antigua), April 6: England captain Michael Vaughan has said he will have no qualms about playing Andrew Strauss in the vital World Cup Super Eights match against Australia even though the opener has yet to play a game at this tournament.
England's top order has so far failed to get the side off to a solid start at the World Cup with Vaughan and Strauss's Middlesex team-mate Ed Joyce both struggling for runs.
In their nail-biting two-run defeat against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday, Vaughan fell for nought and Joyce managed just 10.
But given the skipper is unlikely to drop himself, Irish-born Joyce appears to be in the firing line.
Strauss, 30, hasn't played a one-day international for England since facing Australia in February when he scored six.
And his record in one-dayers against Australia of 321 runs in 15 matches at an average of 22.92 with two fifties, compared to a career average of nearly 33 in 74 matches, doesn't suggest that he will be the miracle cure for England's top order blues.But Vaughan admitted England were considering a change in top order personnel.
“We've discussed it already and we have an idea of the way we are going to go because it is an area of concern,” said the captain.
“We haven't been firing at the top of the order and we have been putting batsmen under pressure. But there have been stages when we have been getting to good positions as well and not going on.
He added: “We need to start better but more importantly we need to get guys to a hundred because we haven't got a guy to a hundred in the tournament yet.”
Vaughan, speaking to reporters at the Antigua Recreation Ground after England training here on Friday, said of Strauss: “It's never easy when you're not playing. But sometimes a break from the game can be quite good mentally.
“He feels fresh and if he gets a game on Sunday I have no qualms that he'll be able to produce some kind of performance..”
However, Vaughan wouldn't confirm if Strauss was playing, saying: “I'll keep you guys guessing for another couple of days.”
England are also looking to Vaughan, yet to score a century in 82 One-day Internationals and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, averaging just 15 with the bat at this tournament, for big scores.
“I feel I'm playing quite nicely in the nets but that counts for nothing because you have to go out in the middle and get them,” said Vaughan.
“I've analysed my dismissals and two out of the last three games have been a little bit unfortunate but if I keep doing the basics right as I do, I'm sure there'll be a big score round the corner.”
And as for Flintoff's batting form, Vaughan said: “He's just lacking middle practice and that's something that can happen.
“He's such an instinctive player, he's the kind of guy that sometimes when he gets out it looks ugly.
“But I've been with him many times before when he's cleared the guy, got a four and he's away.
“The last thing I want Freddie to do is go into his shell and start playing as a defensive player.”—AFP
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