Vaughan salivates over options

Michael Vaughan relaxes before training begins

Michael Vaughan is relishing the prospect of choosing between an increasing pool of outstanding international bowlers as competition for places increases among England’s attack.

The England captain has not been alone in the last few years in wishing he still had the resources available to him he enjoyed during the Ashes-winning summer of 2005, when he had an attack at his disposal which was the envy of the world.

In Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones he had four varied but talented seamers backed up with the experience and determination of left-arm spinner Ashley Giles to finally end Australia’s 18 years of dominance.

For the first time since that incredible summer, Vaughan was forced to go into a Test without any of that attack for last week’s opening npower Test against India at Lord’s yet his young bowlers responded superbly to come within one wicket of an outstanding victory.

As England prepare for the second Test at Trent Bridge on Friday, Vaughan is now licking his lips in anticipation of the day when he may have them all available again and all battling for a place in the starting line-up.

“It would be nice to have that situation where we had all the bowlers fit and bowling well and see what would be the best combination to go into a game - until that day arises it’s very difficult to say who would get into the side,” said Vaughan.

“It was a very impressive display from all the guys who played at Lord’s. They worked well as a unit, which is something we haven’t probably done that well since 2005.

Seamers Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson have come to the party at Test level this summer

“It’s nice as a captain to have options and variations and all the bowlers working very well together, but until everybody is fit and firing we’re just picking from the guys that are available at the minute.

“The bigger pool of bowlers that we can have, the better it is for the team. Hopefully everybody will get fit and everybody will be bowling well and there will be a few tough decisions to make.”

Both Harmison (hernia) and Flintoff (ankle) will miss the remaining two Tests in the npower series while Hoggard (back spasm) is being monitored closely over the next few days at Trent Bridge to determine his fitness for the final Test at the Oval on August 9.

Simon Jones is only just returning this season from a long-standing knee problem while there are genuine fears that Giles may have to consider his future in the game after a series of hip problems.

In their absence, England dominated India at Lord’s with James Anderson claiming seven wickets in the match, Ryan Sidebottom six and debutant Chris Tremlett justifying his selection ahead of Stuart Broad with four.

England have named the same line-up again for Trent Bridge, which is a ground that traditionally favours swing bowling.

Vaughan gets down to some fielding drills at the National Cricket Centre © Getty Images

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“Chris’ bounce to any batsman in the world is very hard to face, but we felt the Indians in particular weren’t as used to the steep bounce as many batsmen because of the wickets they play on in India,” explained Vaughan.

“It was just an instinct that maybe that if his bounce could be the difference between the two sides, particularly if it got flat.

“It’s always healthy to have competition for places because it keeps you on your toes. We look like we might be getting to that stage where we have a good pool of bowlers, but the amount of Test matches that are played now during the summer and the winter you’re going to need that amount of bowlers.

“The fresher we can keep them the better - we’ve just got to make sure we keep everyone fit and everyone bowling well and then we have a tough decision to make sure we get the best bowling attack available.”

England have been unable to practice outside for that last couple of days because of the incessant rain, which forced them to move to the National Cricket Centre in Loughborough on Thursday, but Vaughan senses they are a team focused on claiming victory in Nottingham.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) was a slight disappointment because of the weather, but I don’t mind having an extra day of relaxing when you have back-to-back games,” added Vaughan.

“Today we had a real focus to our session. You can never really tell how you’re going to pitch up but you get a good vibe that we’re a good mind and spirit going into Friday’s game.”