Vaughan poised to confirm retirement after Ashes snub
FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan looks to have played his last first class match after a press conference was called for tomorrow at which he is widely expected to confirm his retirement.
Speculation Vaughan would retire has snowballed since the 34-year-old was left out of England’s initial squad for the Ashes last week. The Yorkshire batsman, who masterminded the 2005 victory over Australia, had pinned his hopes on winning a recall for this year’s series, which begins in Cardiff next week. But he was overlooked for the 16-man training party and did not even merit a place in the second-string Lions squad, after patchy form for his county.
“Michael had set his stall on being picked for the Ashes Tests,” said Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan. “When that didn’t happen I think it then opened up a different set of thought processes over what happens next.”
Vaughan was left out of Yorkshire’s squad for yesterday’s Twenty20 Cup defeat to Derbyshire over fears the speculation could be a distraction.
After resigning as England captain last summer Vaughan vowed to return to Yorkshire to rediscover his form, but scored just 147 runs in seven innings.
SCOREBOARD VAUGHAN’S CAREER
TEST CAREER
Played 82, Innings 147, Not Out 9, Runs 5,719, Highest score 197, Avg 41.44, Strike rate 51.13, 100s 18, 50s 18, Catches 44
ONE DAY INTERNATIONALS
Played 86, Innings 83, Not Out 10, Runs 1,982, Highest score 90, Avg 27.15, Strike rate 68.39, 100s 0, 50s 16, Catches 25
TEST CAPTAINCY
Played 51, Won 26, Lost 11, Drawn 14,
Win percentage 50.98