NatWest Trophy: Vaughan has platform to end drought (7 July 1999)

7 July 1999

NatWest Trophy: Vaughan has platform to end drought

Charles Randall

Names that have been swirling around as candidates for the England team include Michael Vaughan, but the Yorkshire batsman has found himself in desperate need of runs in the fourth round of the NatWest Trophy against Leicestershire at Headingley today.

It only takes one of England's older players to fail - as Alec Stewart did opening the innings at Edgbaston last week - and speculation sucks in names like a minor tornado. Realistically, with runs so hard to find for most batsmen this summer, there are few obvious replacements.

Vaughan seemed the man most likely to get recognition after last winter's England A tour to southern Africa, but in the past month Darren Maddy has probably jumped past him in the selectors' thoughts with a June glut of runs for Leicestershire; the two players oppose each other at Headingley with plenty to prove.

Vaughan, 24, tipped as a future England captain, has endured a miserable summer, broken only by two championship hundreds in one match against Essex at Chelmsford. Apart from that, his highest score has been 45 in 23 innings in all cricket.

"My form has been indifferent, to be honest," he said. "Chelmsford was probably the only wicket I've felt comfortable on all season. My feet movement hasn't been as good as usual - I don't know why.

"Obviously if I got the chance for England I'd be delighted, but it's down to me to get as many runs as I can for Yorkshire. This last week, with Alec Stewart failing twice, a lot has been said in the media, but he's a fine player and I think he'll come through this patch."

Yorkshire, patchy in the championship, have produced impressive one-day results, with eight wins in nine matches. Today's NatWest game is on Sky and reaching the quarter-finals could expose players to terrestrial television coverage on Channel 4, which is guaranteed at the semi-finals and final stage.

England's selectors have few chances to assess a player's ability under pressure. So Vaughan, Maddy and other hopefuls are all too aware of the value of performing in the final at Lord's, on Aug 29.

Jacques Kallis joins Glamorgan next weekend, too late for their home tie against Warwickshire, but the all-rounder, now free of injury, is expecting to play in the championship game against Lancashire at Blackpool next Wednesday.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph