Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan has made the startling claim that beating Australia in this year’s five-Test series isn’t the be all and end all for the England team.
Vaughan, who is trying to force his way back into the national side, was at the helm when England shocked the cricketing world in 2005 by regaining the Ashes on home soil following a 16-year drought.
The ex-skipper is trying to ease the pressure on new England coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss before the spotlight shifts their way at the end of the English football season.
“You’ve got to be careful because you’ve got to give Flower time,” the 34-year-old told leading website cricinfo.
“He’s only just come into the position as a full-time coach, and the Ashes are two months away.
“Myself and (former coach) Duncan [Fletcher] were lucky, we had two years to develop a team to take on the Aussies in 2005.
“We had a great set of players operating in the fashion that we wanted, and that took time.
“This summer is a big summer for the world game because the Ashes is very special, but it’s not the be-all and end-all for the England team, because it’s all relatively new for Flower and Strauss.”
The Australians have shown the high importance they are placing on retaining the Ashes by resting key players Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hussey from the current one-day series against Pakistan.
Pacemen Stuart Clark, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus have all been put on ice at different times to ensure their fitness for the first Ashes Test starting July 8 in Cardiff.
Strauss’s men warm up for the Ashes with a two-Test home series against the West Indies starting May 6 at Lord’s.
Vaughan hasn’t played a Test for eight months and is, along with the likes of Ian Bell, trying to put pressure on Owais Shah for the No.3 spot in the Test side.
“I’d like another stab at the England side,” said Vaughan.
“I feel I’ve got a great opportunity to do that.
“Last summer I got to a stage where I wasn’t quite enjoying cricket, and I didn’t like that feeling at all, but anyone who’s been around me for the last six months will see that I’m ready to go.”
Vaughan, who has played 82 Tests, was one of the few shining lights for England during their 2002/03 Ashes series loss in Australia before leading his side to triumph in 2005.
He has struggled with injuries in recent years and a knee complaint kept him out of the 2006/07 series which England lost 5-0.
But he said he wanted to be picked on form, not memories.
“I don’t want to be just picked on experience,” he said.
“It’s important that I score runs for my own sake.”
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