Love Cricket? Try betting on your favourite team and win!

 


Advertise here

Ad slots still available for Ashes

Recent Posts

The Ashes 2009 news


Cricket news

2009 County Cricket


Matthew Hoggard




Overshadowing The Ego

By Will 2 years ago, at the end of May Add your comment below


© Getty ImagesKevin Pietersen whacked his fastest Test hundred today and yet was overshadowed by someone who was once described by Ian Chappell [1] as the most unlikely of Test batsman. More of an accountant - a bookish, slightly nerdy character. It was Michael Vaughan, then storming Australia during his epic series.

And at last today, he returned. The old cover-drive was there, complete with swashbuckling follow-through. It was a slick innings against some of the most inept, friendly bowling imaginable, on a friendly Headingley pitch under clear skies. The conditions and situation were tailor-made for him and he took full advantage. Even his favoured pull stroke was there…though he timed one of them rather too well, falling straight down Morton’s throat.

It just reminded me of what an audacious, brilliantly talented batsman he once was, but also what he could still be capable of. He said before this Test that he felt as though he was making his debut today and, that being the case, let’s hope he’ll be just as successful as England’s other recent debutants - Alastair Cook and Matt Prior to name two. If the knees survive - and let’s be honest, if they don’t, it’ll probably end his career in a hurry - there’s no reason why he can’t dominate bowling like he did four years ago.

Meanwhile Andrew Strauss, the Middlesex legend, is under a wee bit of pressure. Needs big runs, quickly.

[1] I think it was Chappell.

Tags: , , , , , |

2 Responses to “Overshadowing The Ego”

  • Innocent Abroad wrote:
    May 25th, 2007 at 11.41 pm

    Yes, those of us who thought Vaughan shouldn’t have played in this Test must now eat humble pie.

    It’ll be interesting to see Vaughan the captain to-morrow. Doubt England will want to bat on beyond lunch to-morrow & if speed of runs is as important as quantity we have the right two guys in occupation.

    And a word in praise of Paul Collingwood too - he scored as fast as KP while he was there.

    The Windies have a good opening pair and a dogged lower order, but despite the weather I suspect Vaughan will want to win this one - and I bet he bowls more overs than Gayle, too.

  • Kathy wrote:
    May 26th, 2007 at 7.17 am

    Well, it feels damned sweet to me, after keeping the faith for the past 18 months, and being roundly mocked for it too! To tell the truth, I was glad he was out for 103, because I was worried right through his innings that he was going to fall to the ground clutching some part of his body. And if he’d gone on much longer, it might have happened.

    • Comments


    Receive email updates on new comments


    « England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Headingley, 1st day | Main | The Phillip Schofield report »