Vaughan seeks first one-day triumph

Published September 25, 2004

LONDON, Sept 24: England have never won a major international limited-overs title while West Indian World Cup glory days date back to 1975 and 1979. Neither team will need much motivating for Saturday's Champions Trophy final.

It is hard to separate two teams who began the 12-team competition as outside bets, with England ranked sixth in the world and their opponents seventh. The hosts, indeed, have long been accused of ineptitude at the one-day game.

While their test match stock has risen dramatically under coach Duncan Fletcher, their limited-overs outings have provoked derision rather than respect. Often the team has been bloated with 'bits-and-pieces' all rounders who have failed to convince with either bat or ball.

On Saturday, however, Michael Vaughan will lead out a side similar to his Test line-up which has won 10 matches out of 11 this year. Harmison's clash with Brian Lara may hold the key.

Asked about Lara's perceived vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, Fletcher would only say with a smile: "We'll discuss that at our team meeting." West Indies coach Gus Logie responded: "I have no indication of what England's tactics will be. We have our own game plan. "Brian will want to play and I am not going to stand in his way. His injury is just bruising.

PROBABLE TEAMS:

ENGLAND: Marcus Trescothick, Vikram Solanki, Michael Vaughan (capt), Andrew Strauss, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Alex Wharf, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison.

WEST INDIES: Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Ryan Hinds, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore. -Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....