Vaughan wants England to clinch whitewash

Sunday, April 4, 2004

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Michael Vaughan pledged on Sunday to go all out in search of a 4-0 whitewash when England take on a battered and bruised West Indies in the final Test in Antigua next week.

England won the third Test inside three days here on Saturday by eight wickets to wrap up a first series win in the Caribbean since 1968 when the legendary Colin Cowdrey was in charge.

Now Vaughan has promised no mercy to Brian Lara's shell-shocked side.

"That's the aim now," said the skipper when asked about a possible 4-0 scoreline.

"We are three-nil up and we'll be going to Antigua to try to win. But we'll certainly celebrate this great series victory. It's been a long wait but these lads deserve all the credit they are going to get because they have put in a lot of hard work."

Since Cowdrey last led a successful England team here, it had been one long tale of misery.

The 1973/74 series finished 1-1, the West Indies won 2-0 in 1981, 5-0 in 1986, 2-1 in 1990, 3-1 in 1994 and 3-1 again in 1998.

England, already 2-0 up in the four-match series having won the first Test in Jamaica by 10 wickets and the second Test in Trinidad by 7 wickets, wrapped up victory at the Kensington Oval here late on the third day when they made 93-2 in their second innings with Mark Butcher hitting the winning runs to finish 12 not out.

Marcus Trescothick had made 42 before being caught by Ridley Jacobs off Corey Collymore while Vaughan was dismissed in the same manner for 32.

Earlier, England had bowled out the West Indies for just 94 with paceman Matthew Hoggard taking a hat-trick in a four wicket haul.

Only West Indies skipper Brian Lara offered any resistance top-scoring with 33 despite twice needing treatment on an injured left arm but even he wasn't able to prevent Vaughan's men from celebrating an historic triumph.

Lara was devastated by the defeat and knows he will face more calls for his resignation.

"It is very hard to put into words how the team feels because it's been a long time since England won a Test series here," Lara said.

"Now it's a matter of picking ourselves up. It hurts a lot. We have another Test starting very soon. We have to regroup and get our emotions in place and get ready to do battle again."

Graham Thorpe was named man-of-the-match for his first innings 119 not out which he rated the second best of his career after his comeback ton against South Africa at The Oval last year.

"It was good to get runs when the team needed it," said Thorpe.

"It was probably the second-best knock I've played for England, to be honest. The best was the century against South Africa coming back after being so long out of Test cricket.

"But this is brilliant because we've been on the wrong end of a few games.

"We've got young guys coming through, the bowlers have been fantastic for us. To bowl them out for under 100 set it up brilliantly again."

Also celebrating was former skipper Nasser Hussain who was part of Graham Gooch's team which lost the 1990 series here 2-1 after holding a 1-0 lead.

"It's brilliant. We don't often win here," said Hussain who was at the wicket with fellow veteran Butcher when the winning runs were scored.

"Thorpe played brilliantly - the little genius we call him. He played absolutely brilliantly and was backed up by the four big lads (the bowlers).

"They've been well led by the captain and we've got a good coach, a good bowling coach and things are looking good. I'm really pleased for the side.

"There is a genuine warmth in the squad."

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version