Cricket: Australia to keep spotlight on Vaughan

LONDON - Australia warned England captain Michael Vaughan that he will be their prime target for the remainder of the Ashes series after their comprehensive 239-run victory in the first test at Lord's.

Vaughan, who averaged 63.30 against Australia with three centuries as an opener in the last Ashes series, succumbed to Glenn McGrath in both innings for a total of seven runs batting at number three.

"He played superbly against us last time but he wasn't captain," Australia captain Ricky Ponting told a news conference after his team extended their unbeaten streak at Lord's to 18 since their last loss in 1934.

"I think we bowled exceptionally well to him in this game. We didn't give him any easy runs when he first came out and Glenn was probably the main reason for that.

"I whipped Glenn back in the attack when Michael came out in the second innings of the game. I don't think he likes facing him to tell the truth.

"In the one-day games I had the feeling that Glenn was over him as well. I can see McGrath bowling a lot more to Vaughan as the summer goes one."

McGrath, dangling his two children on his lap as he savoured his match-winning performance of nine for 82, said the great West Indies' teams of the 1980s had always targeted the opposing captain.

"I enjoy bowling to him," he said. "I think with Vaughan, it's not technique, it's confidence. I have always said you don't lose your technique overnight batting or bowling. It's just your confidence level that changes.

"He's got a bit of work to do. I think if you can get on top of the captain it can have an effect on the whole team. That's the way we have always played."

Ponting said McGrath's spell of five for 21 from 13 overs on the first day had been the turning point of the match and also praised Shane Warne, who finished the match with six for 83.

"Warnie bowled as well this game as maybe ever," he said.

Vaughan identified England's rash of dropped catches as the team's major weakness. Six catches were floored, three by Kevin Pietersen who top-scored in each innings, plus a half-chance to Andrew Strauss in the gully.

"We didn't take our opportunities in the field," he said. "We know a lot of us have to go and work on our games. I made three and four and that's not good enough."

- REUTERS