16 Apr, 2009
Should Michael Vaughan play in the 2009 Ashes?
Posted by: TheAshesBlog.com In: Team selection ()
Michael Vaughan, the part-time miracle worker from Yorkshire, has been selected in a 25 man squad for the 2009 Ashes series. Some people, especially writers at England’s Guardian newspaper, think that Vaughan should play regardless of how many runs he makes. Others go even further:
“There is a rumour that KP and Freddie will be rested for the Ashes if Vaughan is fit. No point risking their fitness when Vaughan is around to win the game.
Andrew Strauss might as well be shot; he is just that superfluous now. England don’t even need a coach, Vaughan is back, save your money ECB, in fact the ECB is no longer necessary, Vaughan is here to plug all gaps and make everything better.”
- Michael Vaughan is here to win the Ashes: Crikey
Ok, so that’s a bit over the top. The real issue is whether there is another capable player who can win matches batting at number 3 for England in the same way that Vaughan could. Who are the other contestants? Owais Shah (not enough runs at Test level), Ravi Bopara (batting average of 24 just not good enough), and Ian Bell (former wunderkind who has been struggling lately). With competition like that, Michael Vaughan would appear to be a near certainty, with or without his signature walking stick.
