- News>
- Cricket
England wait on Vaughan
England, July 01: England will make a late decision on whether Michael Vaughan is fit enough to lead the side against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
England, July 01: England will make a late decision on whether Michael Vaughan is fit enough to lead the side against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
The Yorkshire batsman is eager to captain the team at his home ground Headingley for the first time.
He will undergo a pre-match fitness test after having to sit out Saturday's win over South Africa at The Oval because of a back problem.
"It will be a special occasion to lead the team out at Headingley," Vaughan said. "It is my home ground, even though I do not get that much of a chance to play there that often these days."
Vaughan batted for an hour in the indoor nets at Headingley on Monday, and a team spokesman said his back was "improving".
If he fails to make it, Marcus Trescothick will again lead the team.
The hosts will also hope the forecast rain holds off long enough for them to avenge Thursday's upset four-wicket defeat to a side they dominated in the recent Test series.
With no reserve day scheduled, if less than 25 overs are available for both teams the points will be shared, handing an advantage to the third team in the tournament, South Africa.
The toss of the coin could also be a major factor, as England have won all three matches so this summer in which they batted second.
The selectors know they must balance the need to secure victory with handing extra experience to fringe players.
Pace bowlers Kabir Ali and Steve Harmison have yet to feature either against Pakistan or in this series.
Zimbabwe, who suffered a 46-run defeat to South Africa on Sunday, have no injury concerns and will stick with the same XI for the third match in a row.
They are looking for all-rounder Travis Friend to continue his progress, having been handed the number three batting slot.
He made 82 against South Africa on Sunday and skipper Heath Streak said: "Travis has always been under-rated as a batsman and he had a good record batting at number three prior to this tournament.
"At the moment he's doing a good job batting-wise and since the second Test has been on a roll.
"But I'm sure he will go on to make an impact with the ball as well."
England (from): MP Vaughan (capt), ME Trescothick, VS Solanki, RWT Key, A Flintoff, A McGrath, CMW Read (wkt), R Clarke, AF Giles, D Gough, RL Johnson, JM Anderson, JO Troughton, Kabir Ali, SJ Harmison.
Zimbabwe: HH Streak (capt), DA Marillier, DD Ebrahim, TJ Friend, GW Flower, T Taibu (wkt), S Matsikenyeri, SM Ervine, AM Blignaut, RW Price, D Hondo, GB Brent.
Bureau Report
"It will be a special occasion to lead the team out at Headingley," Vaughan said. "It is my home ground, even though I do not get that much of a chance to play there that often these days."
Vaughan batted for an hour in the indoor nets at Headingley on Monday, and a team spokesman said his back was "improving".
If he fails to make it, Marcus Trescothick will again lead the team.
The hosts will also hope the forecast rain holds off long enough for them to avenge Thursday's upset four-wicket defeat to a side they dominated in the recent Test series.
With no reserve day scheduled, if less than 25 overs are available for both teams the points will be shared, handing an advantage to the third team in the tournament, South Africa.
The toss of the coin could also be a major factor, as England have won all three matches so this summer in which they batted second.
The selectors know they must balance the need to secure victory with handing extra experience to fringe players.
Pace bowlers Kabir Ali and Steve Harmison have yet to feature either against Pakistan or in this series.
Zimbabwe, who suffered a 46-run defeat to South Africa on Sunday, have no injury concerns and will stick with the same XI for the third match in a row.
They are looking for all-rounder Travis Friend to continue his progress, having been handed the number three batting slot.
He made 82 against South Africa on Sunday and skipper Heath Streak said: "Travis has always been under-rated as a batsman and he had a good record batting at number three prior to this tournament.
"At the moment he's doing a good job batting-wise and since the second Test has been on a roll.
"But I'm sure he will go on to make an impact with the ball as well."
England (from): MP Vaughan (capt), ME Trescothick, VS Solanki, RWT Key, A Flintoff, A McGrath, CMW Read (wkt), R Clarke, AF Giles, D Gough, RL Johnson, JM Anderson, JO Troughton, Kabir Ali, SJ Harmison.
Zimbabwe: HH Streak (capt), DA Marillier, DD Ebrahim, TJ Friend, GW Flower, T Taibu (wkt), S Matsikenyeri, SM Ervine, AM Blignaut, RW Price, D Hondo, GB Brent.
Bureau Report