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Vaughan salutes Gough contribution
London, July 13: England one-day captain Michael Vaughan praised the performance of Yorkshire team-mate Darren Gough in his team`s seven-wicket triangular series final win over South Africa at Lord`s.
London, July 13: England one-day captain Michael Vaughan praised the performance of Yorkshire team-mate Darren Gough in his team's seven-wicket triangular series final win over South Africa at Lord's.
Gough, 32, recalled after nearly a year out with a knee injury, took two for nine in seven overs as South Africa were bowled out for 107 - their lowest ever one-day international total against England - after Vaughan won the toss and put them into bat yesterday.
"Gough is an exceptional bowler. He has proved that over the years and he has proved invaluable for me out on the park," said Vaughan.
"He set the tone by getting in everything in the right place and putting South Africa under pressure," said the captain. Gough, an ever-present in England's one-day team this summer, has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches this season - and in one of those, against Zimbabwe at his Headingley home ground on July 1, England never took the field in a washed-out no-result.
"Putting them in, it was always our intention to get early wickets. But you have to give full credit to the bowlers because it was a decent wicket out there - I know I batted on it," said the 28-year-old England one-day skipper who made a brisk 30.
Gough has proved a mean foil to new-ball partner James Anderson, who at 20 has fast become a mainstay of the team. Anderson has often been the more expensive of the pair and so it proved again yesterday with his 10 overs going for 50 runs although he did take three wickets.
"Jimmy is a wicket-taker," Vaughan said. "But with Gough at the other end, he dragged it back from the start."
The result meant Vaughan's first season as England one-day captain - since succeeding Nasser Hussain after he retired following the World Cup - ended with two trophies from two tournaments after last month's 2-1 series win at home to Pakistan.
Hussain is set to resume the captaincy, with Vaughan stepping down to the ranks, for England's forthcoming five Test series at home to South Africa starting at Edgbaston on July 24.
England are due to name their first Test squad on Friday. Bureau Report
"Gough is an exceptional bowler. He has proved that over the years and he has proved invaluable for me out on the park," said Vaughan.
"He set the tone by getting in everything in the right place and putting South Africa under pressure," said the captain. Gough, an ever-present in England's one-day team this summer, has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches this season - and in one of those, against Zimbabwe at his Headingley home ground on July 1, England never took the field in a washed-out no-result.
"Putting them in, it was always our intention to get early wickets. But you have to give full credit to the bowlers because it was a decent wicket out there - I know I batted on it," said the 28-year-old England one-day skipper who made a brisk 30.
Gough has proved a mean foil to new-ball partner James Anderson, who at 20 has fast become a mainstay of the team. Anderson has often been the more expensive of the pair and so it proved again yesterday with his 10 overs going for 50 runs although he did take three wickets.
"Jimmy is a wicket-taker," Vaughan said. "But with Gough at the other end, he dragged it back from the start."
The result meant Vaughan's first season as England one-day captain - since succeeding Nasser Hussain after he retired following the World Cup - ended with two trophies from two tournaments after last month's 2-1 series win at home to Pakistan.
Hussain is set to resume the captaincy, with Vaughan stepping down to the ranks, for England's forthcoming five Test series at home to South Africa starting at Edgbaston on July 24.
England are due to name their first Test squad on Friday. Bureau Report