KEY POINTS:
The Michael Vaughan soap opera took another intriguing twist on the final day of England's warm-up cricket match against Western Australia when the team's official captain was denied an opportunity to bat.
England, quite rightly, chose to give practice to those who may feature in the third Ashes test, which starts on Thursday, not someone whose rehabilitation from a career-threatening knee injury is still in the early stages.
The prudent judgment has left everyone wondering why England decided to pick Vaughan for the match in the first place. England have several players who need the practice and it would have been folly to allow him to bat ahead of Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles or Sajid Mahmood. Vaughan, by all accounts, was not happy with the decision as it ended any chance he had of playing in the final two Ashes tests.
Vaughan admitted that he was struggling to be fit for Melbourne and Sydney, stating that the one-day series, which begins in a month's time, is a more realistic option. He also said that it was rubbish to suggest that his presence was having a detrimental effect on the England team. Perhaps he should have a word with some of his teammates, who do not have a clue what is going on. He is wrong if he feels that it is not a distraction.
Andrew Strauss, who captained England in the two-day match against Western Australia, explained the reasoning behind Vaughan's demotion.
"Vaughny was due to come in at four but, as the day wore on, it became more a question of giving the guys who may be involved in the test match a run out," he said.
"That is why he slipped down the order. He came through fielding on Saturday really well and he was fit to bat, which is encouraging for him and us."
Strauss and Alastair Cook made the most of a lacklustre day's cricket, scoring 88 and 106 respectively. Ed Joyce, Marcus Trescothick's replacement, highlighted his class with a well-constructed 73 and Chris Read showed Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, that he can bat by striking 59. Jones and Giles, two of Fletcher's favourites, were the only ones to fail with the bat.
Strauss looked in excellent touch during his three-hour innings.
England's batsmen were not the only players to have a decent workout. On Saturday the bowlers were given the chance to work at their games in the hope that they can put Australia's batsmen under pressure.
Stephen Harmison bowled better than his figures suggested but James Anderson, with 3 for 53, was the pick of the attack.
"Jimmy bowled as well as I have seen him bowl," said Strauss.
"He swung the ball late and he bowled very few bad balls. He had a tough time in the first two tests but this type of pitch seemed to suit his style of bowling better.
"I know his figures do not look very good but I think Harmy is coming right. We all hope that he continues to improve and that his luck changes. You don't go from being a world-class bowler to nothing overnight."
Monty Panesar had a good workout, too, bowling 25 overs to Giles' eight. "I wouldn't read anything into the number of overs each bowler bowled," Strauss said. "The pitch suited a slightly quicker left-arm spinner and that is why he bowled more overs."
- INDEPENDENT
