Danny
14-07-2005, 12:49 PM
A groin strain that kept Michael Vaughan out of two one day games is a concern for the Ashes selectors. Perhaps a more significant injury than the exposure it has received. This Ashes is expected to serve up close to the full 5 days a test match, we will soon see how Vaughan handles the workload.
England takes no chances with Vaughan
July 14, 2005 - 7:04AM
SMH
England has taken no chances over the fitness of captain Michael Vaughan a week out from the Ashes series against Australia by resting him from a county cricket one-day quarter-final this weekend.
England insisted Vaughan sit out Yorkshire's one-day clash against Northamptonshire on Saturday, having missed two one-day matches for his country during the triangular series against Australia and Bangladesh, last month.
"We need to ensure that there is no further deterioration to the groin strain that kept Michael out of two matches," England's chief medical officer Peter Gregory said.
"We are confident, however, that with rest Michael will be fully fit for the first Ashes Test at Lord's next week."
England's selectors, who will soon announce the squad for the first Test, were also assured one-day batsman Kevin Pietersen had recovered from a groin strain and would be available to make his Test debut - if selected.
Pietersen, whose explosive arrival onto the one-day scene and flamboyant personality makes him one of the talked-about players in England, sat out most of Australia's batting innings in Tuesday's final one-day match at The Oval.
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Pietersen is expected to win selection and gained a tick of support from his friend and Hampshire teammate Shane Warne, who was happy to muse on the make-up of England's first Test side.
Warne said he Pietersen was one of the most destructive players in England and that his "X-factor" made him a potential Ashes wildcard.
"I think Kevin Pietersen should play," Warne said.
"They've just got to make room for him."
Pietersen, 25, is competing for a spot in the Test side's middle order with veteran Graham Thorpe, 35, who wants to play one final Ashes series.
Warne said he would rather play Thorpe, as the legspinner had dismissed the left-hander nine times in Tests, but believed there was room for both batsmen.
"Why can't they play Thorpe at five, Pietersen at six, (allrounder Andrew) Flintoff at seven, (wicketkeeper Geraint) Jones at eight, (spinner Ashley) Giles nine and two quicks?," Warne said.
"You've got Flintoff as your third seamer and you've got Giles so you've got four bowlers, and you've got Ian Bell to bowl medium pace and Vaughan offspin ... who says you can't fit them all in?"
Australia arrived in Leicester and will prepare for the three-day match against Leicestershire, starting Friday, which is the final hit-out before the first Test.
England takes no chances with Vaughan
July 14, 2005 - 7:04AM
SMH
England has taken no chances over the fitness of captain Michael Vaughan a week out from the Ashes series against Australia by resting him from a county cricket one-day quarter-final this weekend.
England insisted Vaughan sit out Yorkshire's one-day clash against Northamptonshire on Saturday, having missed two one-day matches for his country during the triangular series against Australia and Bangladesh, last month.
"We need to ensure that there is no further deterioration to the groin strain that kept Michael out of two matches," England's chief medical officer Peter Gregory said.
"We are confident, however, that with rest Michael will be fully fit for the first Ashes Test at Lord's next week."
England's selectors, who will soon announce the squad for the first Test, were also assured one-day batsman Kevin Pietersen had recovered from a groin strain and would be available to make his Test debut - if selected.
Pietersen, whose explosive arrival onto the one-day scene and flamboyant personality makes him one of the talked-about players in England, sat out most of Australia's batting innings in Tuesday's final one-day match at The Oval.
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Pietersen is expected to win selection and gained a tick of support from his friend and Hampshire teammate Shane Warne, who was happy to muse on the make-up of England's first Test side.
Warne said he Pietersen was one of the most destructive players in England and that his "X-factor" made him a potential Ashes wildcard.
"I think Kevin Pietersen should play," Warne said.
"They've just got to make room for him."
Pietersen, 25, is competing for a spot in the Test side's middle order with veteran Graham Thorpe, 35, who wants to play one final Ashes series.
Warne said he would rather play Thorpe, as the legspinner had dismissed the left-hander nine times in Tests, but believed there was room for both batsmen.
"Why can't they play Thorpe at five, Pietersen at six, (allrounder Andrew) Flintoff at seven, (wicketkeeper Geraint) Jones at eight, (spinner Ashley) Giles nine and two quicks?," Warne said.
"You've got Flintoff as your third seamer and you've got Giles so you've got four bowlers, and you've got Ian Bell to bowl medium pace and Vaughan offspin ... who says you can't fit them all in?"
Australia arrived in Leicester and will prepare for the three-day match against Leicestershire, starting Friday, which is the final hit-out before the first Test.