Vaughan predicts 'chin music'

23 May 2008

Michael Vaughan knows his seam bowlers could play a crucial role © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan has called on England’s young attack to crank up their pace as they attempt to unsettle New Zealand on Old Trafford’s fast and bouncy pitch.

The England captain is a big fan of Old Trafford having enjoyed considerable success and overseen an unbeaten record stretching back to defeat against Pakistan in 2001 at the Manchester ground.

But he is well aware that, to achieve maximum impact, England’s attack will have to put the effort in and ensure they maintain pace levels in all their spells if they are to achieve victory in the second npower Test starting today.

“I’m excited about the young seam attack,” enthused Vaughan. “They’ll have to be on their pace this week because to get the rewards at Old Trafford you have to put the effort in.

“As a bowler you can see the ball carry, but you have to be up with your pace in every spell you bowl. If you trundle out here and bowl at 80 or 81mph you can find yourself going around the park.”

That is underlined by England’s record at Old Trafford in recent years with Steve Harmison claiming match figures of 11 for 76 against Pakistan two years ago to secure victory inside three days.

But batsmen can also prosper with Vaughan hitting a memorable century in the 2005 Ashes Test while Alastair Cook followed suit in last year’s 60-run victory over West Indies.

“Pace is crucial, which is why I think this could be the best cricket wicket in the country,” added Vaughan. “You know you have to bowl with a decent amount of gas.

“If you do that you’ll create opportunities both with conventional and reverse swing. If you spin the ball and have nice flight and variation you’ll get a lot out of this wicket as well.

“Equally, if you’re a good player as a batsman there’s a great opportunity for you to go on and get big scores.

“That’s why we feel this is a great place to play cricket. It’s always quite attacking cricket, there’s always a bit of chin music, there’s plenty to see and that’s why we always look forward to playing the game here.”

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While left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has claimed 18 wickets in his last two Tests at Old Trafford and is almost certain to be a threat once again, the same applies to New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was man of the match in the drawn opening Test at Lord’s.

“We’ll have to combat him,” admitted Vaughan. “I thought all their bowlers bowled reasonably well at Lord’s but Daniel produced an especially good spell.

“We’ll have to watch him this week and play him as well as we can. We’ve all had success against him and we all know how to play him so if we can play well against him and nullify him it will certainly help us to the end goal.”

England have already announced their starting XI with Hampshire’s Chris Tremlett the unlucky player to be left out as the hosts stick with the team that drew at Lord’s.