Vaughan enters history books

28 May 2007

Michael Vaughan batted imperiously to set up the England win © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan oversaw a “ruthless” England performance in a record innings win over West Indies which has made him the joint most successful captain in his country’s history.

Vaughan, who marked his return to Test cricket after 18 months out injured with a century on his home ground, led England to an innings-and-283-run victory on the back of a maiden double-hundred from Kevin Pietersen (226) and Ryan Sidebottom’s eight wickets.

The result was the heaviest loss in Windies history - and gave Vaughan his 20th win as England captain, putting him level with Peter May.

Predictably, the statistics did not excite Vaughan post match - but he was interested in the manner of England’s victory, recorded with more than a day to spare despite a complete washout on Sunday.

“We got on top of the West Indies on that very first day,” he recalled. “We were ruthless and got the job done.”

England will therefore report to Old Trafford for the start of the third npower Test 1-0 up in a four-match series.

When they do Vaughan insists they must be ready to play to the same high standard all over again.

Ramnaresh Sarwan crashed into the advertising boards

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The Windies are likely to have Shivnarine Chanderpaul back from his knee injury but not captain Ramnaresh Sarwan - who hurt his shoulder and could not bat in either innings - and Vaughan is determined to keep the tourists on the back foot.

“We’re only 1-0 up with two to play - and we’ve got to do exactly the same in a week’s time at Old Trafford,” he said.

Nottinghamshire bowler Sidebottom surely did enough, in his first Test for six years and only his second in all, to merit inclusion in Manchester - and Vaughan admits his former Yorkshire team-mate surprised him in this match.

“Ryan was exceptional from his first ball - he offered great angles with his left-arm variety,” added the captain.

“He certainly didn’t swing it like that when he was at Yorkshire a few years ago - it was great for him to come in and do what he did.”

Vaughan was also delighted to see Steve Harmison take three second-innings wickets.

“When the wicket flattened out a little bit this afternoon, I thought Steve Harmison was back to what we know he can be,” he said.

“That was bowling 90mph, getting bounce off a good length - and putting batsmen under a lot of pressure when the ball wasn’t swinging.

Steve Harmison was back to his best on Monday afternoon

“We hope that spell down the hill will just be the tonic that gives him confidence going into the next match at Old Trafford.”

Vaughan conceded seamer Liam Plunkett may have more improvement in him, but nobody could quibble with the performance of Pietersen - who himself insisted the eventual outcome gave him significantly more pleasure than his personal contribution.

“This is the best feeling - better than scoring a double-hundred - sitting here with a winning captain, back in a winning dressing room,” he said, after England’s first Test win since August.

“We do try as hard as we can every single day, and a win under our belts is a huge plus for us.

“We want to make opposition scared of this new England team.”

England batsman Ian Bell, who missed the final two days of the Test with a stiff back, is expected to feature for Warwickshire in a one-day game next week.

Windies coach David Moore had very little to smile about - particularly as his team lost their last three wickets for no runs in eight balls, after Dwayne Bravo (52) and Runako Morton had hinted at a resilience that ultimately did not exist.

“It was ugly in the end - it looked like a pretty meek surrender,” said Moore.

Dwayne Bravo batted very well for his half-century

“I thought there was some encouragement in the middle when Bravo and Morton were going well.

“But unfortunately Morton fell for the three-card trick - then it was a pretty quick exit after that.”

Moore is nonetheless confident his team are capable of much better - as long as they learn from their mistakes.

“They’ve got to get to a point where they realise we have to play for five days - and we have to bat right through,” he said.

“We saw England do it, and twice we couldn’t. It is important to be able to occupy the crease.”

The outcome was especially galling for Moore, after the Windies had fought hard to save the first Test at Lord’s.

“We hung in and did really well in the first Test - but we haven’t been able to string two innings together,” he said.

“We can be so good one Test and then very disappointing the next - such a gutsy performance in the first, then in the second it’s as if it’s a different team on the field. We’ve got to learn from those mistakes.”

The Windies did not do that here - and Moore accepts that fact.

“We played four poor shots in the first innings and a number of poor shots in the second - which had nothing to do with the swinging ball,” he said.

“It’s frustrating any time a batter you have faith in makes a mistake that you don’t expect them to make.

“But I’ve seen them bat and bat very well during Test matches - it’s just that we need to be more consistent.

“That will come from hard work and practice and commitment to the task.”