LONDON, Sept 23: Injured England captain Michael Vaughan said selecting players not yet fit for the Ashes Tour later this year was the right thing to do.

Andrew Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Ashley Giles were named for the tour, with the first match in Canberra on Nov 10, although they were not completely fit when the squad was announced.

Vaughan, recovering from a knee operation after missing the entire season, fully supported the decision to select players such as Flintoff, Trescothick and Giles.

“I spoke to the selectors quite regularly about the squad and it was one of the easiest Ashes touring parties you could possibly pick,” Vaughan told the Yorkshire Post.

“There weren't really any tough decisions and the selectors would not have taken any risks on fitness.

“They must be very, very confident because they would not take risks for such a big series, and although people will always have their views as to whether certain players should be included, the squad is right in my opinion.”

Vaughan also believes England have a great chance of retaining the Ashes.

He added: “It won't be easy, but I think we've got one hell of a good chance. Australia will be at home, so they will have a little bit of a head start, but I don't think any of our players will be fazed by that.”

Vaughan has also set himself the target of returning to action in the post-Ashes, one-day tournament in Australia.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

WHILE launching the Economic Survey 2026, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told a hopeful story of economic...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...