Premium
This is an archive article published on September 8, 2005

145;We won146;t be defensive146;

Michael Vaughan has rejected suggestions that England could be accused of defensive tactics if they opted to play an extra batsman rather th...

.

Michael Vaughan has rejected suggestions that England could be accused of defensive tactics if they opted to play an extra batsman rather than a bowler in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.

The home captain, asked whether England might replace injured fast bowler Simon Jones against Australia with batting all-rounder Paul Collingwood rather than specialist swing bowler James Anderson, told reporters: 8220;It will be a tough decision. 8220;It can also be attacking to have an extra batter and to get a few more runs on the board. Whichever way you go you can read it as being attacking or defensive.

8220;We will just try and make the right decision. But the most important factor is that we play a good game. The result is not going to depend on whichever way we go. 8220;The result will take care of itself if we play a good, consistent game of cricket as we have done over the last three.8221;

Anderson would be a like-for-like replacement, although he is more of a conventional swing bowler compared to Jones.

Collingwood, a batsman and world-class fielder, bowls medium pace but would change the balance of the side if selected, improving England8217;s run-scoring potential but leaving them with less bowling firepower. He conceded he had been surprised at his team8217;s improvement over the past two years.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement