Vaughan: 'It certainly can't hinder your confidence'
Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting give their reaction to the result at Headingley
Jenny Thompson at Headingley
07-Jul-2005
Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting spoke to the media after England's nine-wicket win at Headingley. Vaughan was very upbeat after England's performance while Ponting admitted his side were below par.
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Michael Vaughan
On today's win
We are pleased with the result. We weren't quite at our best in the first half, but it was difficult because it was slippy and it was hard for the bowlers to keep their footing. We probably bowled too short. But we still had to go out and get 220 and I thought we chased very, very well. I'm not going to sit here and say the toss wasn't important, because it was.
We are pleased with the result. We weren't quite at our best in the first half, but it was difficult because it was slippy and it was hard for the bowlers to keep their footing. We probably bowled too short. But we still had to go out and get 220 and I thought we chased very, very well. I'm not going to sit here and say the toss wasn't important, because it was.
On how chasing today was different to the NatWest Series final
I think we have learnt a lot from Saturday's game. When you are chasing quite a smallish total you just have to make sure that you don't allow them back in the game quickly. Saturday we allowed them back too soon. At 33 for 5 Australia looked like they were going to win. We just needed to make sure we were going to give ourselves a platform to accelerate, if we needed to in the last ten overs we had players to. It's so important that you learn and you learn fast. So to learn within one game shows the team has a bit of character about them.
I think we have learnt a lot from Saturday's game. When you are chasing quite a smallish total you just have to make sure that you don't allow them back in the game quickly. Saturday we allowed them back too soon. At 33 for 5 Australia looked like they were going to win. We just needed to make sure we were going to give ourselves a platform to accelerate, if we needed to in the last ten overs we had players to. It's so important that you learn and you learn fast. So to learn within one game shows the team has a bit of character about them.
On how important was Trescothick's innings?
I think it was a tremendous knock. Most importantly England won by nine wickets. We weren't fantastic in the field. We were good enough, but we weren't outstanding, and Marcus's 100 not out was just the platform we needed.
I think it was a tremendous knock. Most importantly England won by nine wickets. We weren't fantastic in the field. We were good enough, but we weren't outstanding, and Marcus's 100 not out was just the platform we needed.
On how the terrorist attacks have affected the side
It's difficult. It certainly puts cricket and sport into perspective. Yesterday we were celebrating London getting the Olympics and then you put the telly on this morning and you see those kinds of things - it just puts sport and life into perspective when you see what is happening. If our win today can go any way towards making a few people happy, that's fantastic.
It's difficult. It certainly puts cricket and sport into perspective. Yesterday we were celebrating London getting the Olympics and then you put the telly on this morning and you see those kinds of things - it just puts sport and life into perspective when you see what is happening. If our win today can go any way towards making a few people happy, that's fantastic.
On how much this win will affect the looming Ashes series
Only time will tell. It certainly can't hinder your confidence when you win by nine wickets against a team like Australia, but how much of an effect the one-dayers will have on the Ashes is hard to say. History suggests that it won't have any. It's just important that you start playing well as individuals and start hitting the ball and bowling nicely. We have got two more knocks before the Ashes series starts, so it's important to try and make the most of the opportunities you can get.
Only time will tell. It certainly can't hinder your confidence when you win by nine wickets against a team like Australia, but how much of an effect the one-dayers will have on the Ashes is hard to say. History suggests that it won't have any. It's just important that you start playing well as individuals and start hitting the ball and bowling nicely. We have got two more knocks before the Ashes series starts, so it's important to try and make the most of the opportunities you can get.
On how pleased he was with his own innings
It was nice but the platform was set. Straussy and Tres really got over that hard part with Lee and McGrath and the ball seaming about. Coming in at 100 for 0, there was no real pressure on the run-rate. You can't complain - and we just cantered over the line.
It was nice but the platform was set. Straussy and Tres really got over that hard part with Lee and McGrath and the ball seaming about. Coming in at 100 for 0, there was no real pressure on the run-rate. You can't complain - and we just cantered over the line.
How dark was it out there? It looked fairly murky late on.
Only for a three or four-over period. I think we got the best of the conditions when we went out there with the sun. When the sun is out at Headingley it makes it that much easier.
Only for a three or four-over period. I think we got the best of the conditions when we went out there with the sun. When the sun is out at Headingley it makes it that much easier.
Ricky Ponting
On the toss
It would have been a nice one to win. I would have had a bowl, too. You know coming to Headingley that, if there is cloud cover, you know there will be a bit of seam movement. It was hard to bat on today and then the clouds went away and it was England's turn to bat. It didn't seam after ten overs and there were definitely contrasting conditions. The first ten overs of our innings were played under cloud and then the first ten of England's were like playing at Adelaide.
It would have been a nice one to win. I would have had a bowl, too. You know coming to Headingley that, if there is cloud cover, you know there will be a bit of seam movement. It was hard to bat on today and then the clouds went away and it was England's turn to bat. It didn't seam after ten overs and there were definitely contrasting conditions. The first ten overs of our innings were played under cloud and then the first ten of England's were like playing at Adelaide.
When you lost one wicket, another went straight away.
It's been the way for us throughout the one-day series so far. We just haven't reacted well at critical times in the game - especially with our batting. We have probably limped towards our total rather than being able to accelerate towards the end because we have lost wickets consistently through the innings. That is one of the things we have to address as a group and hopefully we can improve on that.
It's been the way for us throughout the one-day series so far. We just haven't reacted well at critical times in the game - especially with our batting. We have probably limped towards our total rather than being able to accelerate towards the end because we have lost wickets consistently through the innings. That is one of the things we have to address as a group and hopefully we can improve on that.
But 219 was still a competitive total
I have to admit that I was pretty happy with that total from where we were. Just having sat back and batted myself, the ball was still reacting off the seam. I thought that if conditions were still the same then it might have been defendable but conditions changed dramatically.
I have to admit that I was pretty happy with that total from where we were. Just having sat back and batted myself, the ball was still reacting off the seam. I thought that if conditions were still the same then it might have been defendable but conditions changed dramatically.
On the importance of Mike Hussey
Nearly every game on this tour he's been the man that's put his hand up for us, so he has was very important for us again today. He's an exceptional player confronted with any situation. He's great in the field, so he's been invaluable to the success we've had so far. I imagine he would have been one who was spoken about before the Test squad was announced and he's going to be with us for the summer anyway, so if there are any injuries I'm sure his name will be top of the list.
Nearly every game on this tour he's been the man that's put his hand up for us, so he has was very important for us again today. He's an exceptional player confronted with any situation. He's great in the field, so he's been invaluable to the success we've had so far. I imagine he would have been one who was spoken about before the Test squad was announced and he's going to be with us for the summer anyway, so if there are any injuries I'm sure his name will be top of the list.
On Jason Gillespie's poor form
I'm going to have a chat to him and see where he's at and see whether he feels he would be better to keep playing or to have a few games off before the Test series. He was a bit below his best again today as a few of us were, probably just when I thought he was starting to get it right again. I thought the way he bowled at Lord's, on a wicket that offered a bit of assistance, he was a lot better there. He's always been one that you can rely on in any situation.
I'm going to have a chat to him and see where he's at and see whether he feels he would be better to keep playing or to have a few games off before the Test series. He was a bit below his best again today as a few of us were, probably just when I thought he was starting to get it right again. I thought the way he bowled at Lord's, on a wicket that offered a bit of assistance, he was a lot better there. He's always been one that you can rely on in any situation.
On today's performance
It's always disappointing to lose a game and we will try to pick the areas that we can improve on. It was incredibly hard batting on that wicket today, and I think that's the most challenging one-day wicket I've ever batted on so I was happy with the end total. I still think we've got some room for improvement in our all round game, but probably more so on our bowling and fielding and tactical stuff.
It's always disappointing to lose a game and we will try to pick the areas that we can improve on. It was incredibly hard batting on that wicket today, and I think that's the most challenging one-day wicket I've ever batted on so I was happy with the end total. I still think we've got some room for improvement in our all round game, but probably more so on our bowling and fielding and tactical stuff.
On England's opening pair
Trescothick got away from us, after getting out on a no-ball. Strauss - we allowed him to play the way he likes to play, as well. We bowled too short to him today and any time that we allowed him to try to drive us, he couldn't do it, so there are areas like that we have to tighten up on. But they played their shots. We have to make sure that we are precise with our execution of our plans ahead of the Ashes series.
Trescothick got away from us, after getting out on a no-ball. Strauss - we allowed him to play the way he likes to play, as well. We bowled too short to him today and any time that we allowed him to try to drive us, he couldn't do it, so there are areas like that we have to tighten up on. But they played their shots. We have to make sure that we are precise with our execution of our plans ahead of the Ashes series.
Jenny Thompson is assistant editor of Cricinfo