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Vaughan summons spirit of the Ashes
MICHAEL Vaughan drew on his
experience of winning the Ashes
to help England complete an impressive
fightback against New
Zealand and claim their first
overseas series victory in three
years.
Facing a humiliating series defeat
to a New Zealand side several
rungs below them in the Test
rankings after losing the opening
Test in Hamilton, Vaughan refused
to panic.
Instead he thought back to the
glorious summer of 2005, when
England lost the first Test
against Australia by 239 runs at
Lord's but fought back to regain
the Ashes in thrilling circumstances.
It was that experience which
taught Vaughan that, even in a
three-Test series, it is possible to
fight back and watched his side
improve in each match to complete
a 2-1 series triumph with a
121-runs win in the final Test.
Their victory was their first
overseas series win since beating
South Africa in 2004-5 and their
first win in a three-Test series
after falling behind since winning
in Sri Lanka seven years
ago.
But none of it would have been
achieved had England not stuck
together in the aftermath of
Hamilton, when they were blown
away on the final day for 110, and
they would instead have been
looking at a desperate tour of
New Zealand.
I drew back on a lot of the experience
of the last few years,''
explained Vaughan. Obviously
against Australia we went 1-0
down and I know it's achievable
to come back.
Sometimes when you go 1-0
up you can become a little bit
complacent and take winning for
granted. We just had to make
sure we had a good first day in
the second Test at Wellington
and I really thought if we had a
good first day the confidence
would drive through the dressing
room.
It was very important the
team got back to winning ways
and we had to do it sooner rather
than later.
When you go 1-0 down you
know you have to ask yourselves
a lot of questions to do that but
we've shown a huge amount of
character.
Hopefully this will continue,
hopefully we can win the series
at home and set the series up
against South Africa this summer,
which is going to be a real
test of a young team.''
Their 121-run final Test victory
was achieved largely through
a Test best bowling performance
from left-arm spinner Monty
Panesar, who finished with six
for 126 and importantly removed
the dangerous Ross Taylor and
Brendon McCullum in successive
overs after they had forged a 104-
run stand.
But Panesar, like all the other
bowlers, also had to suffer some
punishment from 19-year-old
debutant Tim Southee, who finished
unbeaten on 77 off 40 balls
having hit the seventh fastest
half-century in Test history off 29
balls.
Southee hammered nine sixes,
five of them off Panesar, and four
fours and although it was too little,
too late, exposed the frailties
in England's cricket at times.
In truth only three players -
man-of-the-series Ryan Sidebottom,
wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose
and seamer Stuart Broad - will
return home from the tour completely
happy with their contribution
to the series.
Vaughan admitted: I do think
there's a lot of talent inside that
dressing room and it came out a
little bit more this week but
there's still a lot of talent being
left in the dressing room so we
can get better and we can improve
in all areas.
We know there's a lot of work
to be done but we're certainly
moving in the right direction and
every game we've played a little
bit better. Starting in May
against New Zealand at Lord's I
hope we can improve and play
even better than we have done
here.''
With England due to face the
same opponents in the opening
Test at Lord's on May 15, there is
little time to hone those skills before
they face a far bigger test in
South Africa later in the summer.
We still have to groove, there's
no doubt about that,'' conceded
coach Peter Moores. We know
we have work to do but it's great
to get a win and good to come
away overseas to get a win because
it creates the confidence
you need to take into the domestic
season in England.''
New Zealand also have problems
heading into that tour, not
least finding a top order who can
score enough runs to make them
more competitive.
But they have found a possible
player for the future in 19-yearold
Southee, who was player of
the tournament at the recent
Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia
and claimed five wickets and a
maiden half-century in his first
Test.
I didn't have to talk to him
that much throughout the
game,'' admitted captain Daniel
Vettori.
For a 19-year-old he has the
gift of the knowledge of the
game, he swings it at pace and
you throw in his batting as well
it's pretty exciting.
We wouldn't say he is polished
but he's got some ability
there and if we can get him going
like that and at times get him to
just hold up an end then as a 19-
year-old it looks good for New
Zealand in the future.''
9:17am Thursday 27th March 2008
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