Vaughan’s gauntlet to new-look England

youthful attack given big stage at lord’s

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ENGLAND’S new-look cricket attack has been challenged to perform on the big stage to ensure that the Ashes heroes of 2005 are forced into a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Ever since England shook up their side by dropping Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison after their opening defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton this year, the pair have been pressing to regain their places in the Test side.

But after overlooking Hoggard and announcing an unchanged line-up for today’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, captain Michael Vaughan urged his youthful attack to seize its opportunity and make it difficult for experienced rivals to earn a recall.

Vaughan said: “Hoggy has done everything we could have asked. He’s gone back and bowled well for Yorkshire and got wickets, but when we’ve won a series and the guys that have come in have done reasonably well they deserve another opportunity.

“They’ve been given that opportunity at Lord’s in front of a lot of people and hopefully they can produce some really good performances.

“Their goal is to try to keep the likes of Hoggard and Harmison out of the side so it’s all there for them – they’ve just got to produce.”

England’s inexperienced attack – which boasts only 64 Test caps between Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar – faces the next stage in its development.

Just as Hoggard, Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones began to gel in the year leading up to the 2005 Ashes success, England will hope the present four players can be equally successful if they establish themselves in the side.

“It is a more settled side than it was a few months ago,” said Vaughan.

“New players have come into the side and done well, but there’s also competition for places so players within the squad know they have to produce good performances because there are a number of good players out there who would like to get into this 11.

“The more consistent cricket we play and the more victories we can achieve will produce more consistent selection. We all know what’s out there for us but we just want to try to continue where we left off in New Zealand.”