Vaughan ready for crunch Windies clash
by Julian Guyer
Tuesday, July 6, 2004
BRISTOL, England (AFP): England captain
Michael Vaughan insisted his side would have no problem bouncing back for
Tuesday's vital NatWest Series triangular match with the West Indies at Lord's
despite their latest defeat against New Zealand.
Victory, with a bonus point, in their last
pool game would see England into the Lord's final of this one-day event
against New Zealand on Saturday.
But any sort of defeat would end England's
hopes after New Zealand qualified thanks to a convincing six-wicket win
against Vaughan's men here Sunday.
However the opening batsman told reporters
after that defeat: "This one we've just lost was almost, not irrelevant
because they are all important games but we knew that, if even we'd beaten the
Kiwis, that we could still be knocked out if we lose to the West Indies."
England beat the West Indies by seven wickets when the sides last met in the
tournament in Leeds on Thursday. But the West
Indies, on June 27 at Trent Bridge, defeated England by the same margin.
And, if they avoid a bonus point reverse on Tuesday, West Indies could still
qualify if they beat New Zealand on Thursday at the Rose Bowl in the last pool
game of the tournament.
"It's a massive game. We must try to emulate
the performance at Leeds," Vaughan said.
However, Vaughan insisted England would not worry about the bonus point.
"We'll just try to win. If you try to be clever, you might come unstuck."
But the 29-year-old Yorkshire batsman added he hoped England could exploit any
frailties in a West Indies team beaten convincingly by five-wickets by New
Zealand at Cardiff on Saturday.
"It's important we just go out and put some
pressure on the West Indies early to see if they have got any cobwebs from the
other day because they did suffer a heavy defeat."
England's latest loss was the tenth time in a row they'd lost a one-day
international when they'd batted first.
However, they did post 237 for seven - their best total of the tournament -
with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's 106 his maiden one-day international
hundred.
And Vaughan insisted: "Confidence is pretty
high. I thought the performance today (Sunday) was pretty good. The toss was
quite important. To get 237, we were quite happy with that total."
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming made 99 and took the game away from
England in an opening stand of 122 with Nathan Astle who scored 53.
However, Vaughan took heart from Flintoff's innings, the 25-year-old
Lancashire all-rounder reaching three figures in a one-day international for
the first time in what was his 73rd match.
"It was a fantastic knock. He's becoming a true, proper cricketer. He's
reading the game, playing with vast amounts of knowledge of the game and
playing in a proper manner." But Flintoff, a
lively seamer also capable of effective containment, is currently unable to
bowl because of an ankle injury sustained in last month's third Test
whitewash-clinching win against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
His bowling absence was felt Sunday with debutant quick Sajid Mahmood, 22, a
Lancashire team-mate of Flintoff's, seeing his seven overs cost 56 runs.
And Vaughan admitted: "When Flintoff's not bowling it makes it quite difficult
for us." Another worry is Vaughan's own form.
His 12 against New Zealand meant he'd scored just 39 runs in four innings in
this tournament.
"Obviously it's a concern," said Vaughan.
"But I know I'm a good enough player to turn it around."
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
