Vaughan - We keep improving

15 August 2005

England captain Michael Vaughan was proud of the way his side came so close to a memorable win © Getty Images

Captain Michael Vaughan told his England team-mates to hold their heads high after coming within one wicket of going 2-1 ahead in the Ashes series.

Any sense of disappointment was dispelled when Vaughan gathered his players in a post-match huddle after Australian last-wicket pair Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath negotiated the final four overs of the 98 sent down on a tense fifth day at Old Trafford.

Rather than dwell on a missed opportunity, Yorkshire batsman Vaughan spelt out what he believed was the most significant factor of the third Test, namely that England dominated proceedings throughout and they are improving the longer the most eagerly anticipated series for two decades goes on.

Only a heroic 156 from opposite number Ricky Ponting prevented consecutive victories for the home team, who were defeated in the opening match of five last month.

Vaughan called his players into a huddle to praise their performance © Getty Images

“It was a fantastic game of cricket. Being one wicket away from going 2-1 up might lead people to think we are disappointed but I am very proud of how the team has responded to going down at Lord’s,” said Vaughan.

“We were better here than we were at Edgbaston and we dominated the whole match against a very good Australia team to come within a whisker of beating them.

“I told the guys to keep their heads up because we played a great game here. We did not lose a session.

“Three weeks ago we were written off, out of the contest, we kept hearing it would be 5-0.

“It is now 1-1 with two to play and we are playing some good cricket, we have just got to keep performing and matching Australia in every department as we have done here.

“This England team can go as far as it really wants to.

This young England team has matched favourites Australia all the way © Getty Images

“Before the series we heard we were too inexperienced but we have shown a lot of character, we have a lot of ability and a lot of young players with a lot of years left which only bodes well for the future.”

Such was the anticipation created by England’s quest to bowl out Australia - set an improbable 423-run target - that the 23,000-capacity ground was full before 10am and a further 15,000 were locked out.

The chaos outside meant Andrew Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick, Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss were late to report.

England did not start sluggishly, however, as Justin Langer fell to Matthew Hoggard’s first ball of the day.

Ponting stood firm for almost seven hours before gloving a catch down the leg-side off Steve Harmison in a tense finale and walked off believing his team would lose.

“I thought I had let the whole thing slip so the emotions have been up and down all day,” said Ponting.

“I had a little tantrum when I got out and sat in the dressing room with my head down for a while because I thought the game had slipped away from us, I must admit.

“It was difficult enough for me batting out there against Flintoff and Harmison at the end, so having Glenn and Brett subject to it for four overs meant I didn’t have a lot of faith in them.

“But they managed to get through and do a fantastic job once again, as they have all series.

“I don’t think a draw ever feels like a win but we worked extremely hard to sneak away. It was a long, hard day of Test cricket and an unbelievable Test match once again.

“That was one of my best knocks, not just a match-saving one.

“It is satisfying to put your hand up when it matters and do the things the team require as a batter and as a leader.

“We have had to scrap and fight for everything; this is certainly the highest-intensity Test cricket I have played in for the last four or five years and you won’t find two better tussles than you have witnessed over the last two weeks.

“It is fantastic to be part of a series which is shaping up the way this one is. There are a lot of tired bodies on both sides.”