Cricket: England Gamble on Vaughan's Fitness for World Cup

David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, yesterday confirmed England are taking a calculated risk on the fitness of Michael Vaughan by appointing him as captain of the 15-man squad for the World Cup, which begins next month in the Caribbean.

Vaughan, who is recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia, has spent only two hours at the crease in limited-overs internationals since the end of the NatWest Challenge against Australia in July 2005. But such is the selectors' belief in his qualities as a leader that they are willing to overlook his mediocre one-day record as a batsman and the claims of Andrew Flintoff, who captained England in each of their three wins over Australia, and hope that Vaughan's body stands up to the rigours of an intensive World Cup.

"When we played New Zealand in Australia Vaughan's contribution in the field as captain shows how important he is," said Graveney. "It's dangerous for a layman to try and quantify injuries. We'll take guidance from our medical unit and assess the risk involved, but we'll have a clearer picture certainly before we get on the plane [March 2]. It is my personal wish Vaughan will be there as captain."

Vaughan is one of three players recovering from injury to make a squad in which Ravi Bopara's inclusion ahead of Mal Loye was the closest thing to a surprise. Jimmy Anderson (back) and Jon Lewis (ankle) are the other two, but the selectors have made their picks in the knowledge that injured players can be replaced any time between now and the end of the tournament.

However, once replaced - by a member of the provisional 30-man squad - they cannot return. And given the frequency with which Vaughan has broken down since the end of the 2005 Ashes, there is every chance that the captaincy will revert at some stage to Flintoff, although England do not appoint a vice-captain for this tournament.

It is, therefore, curious Graveney would not provide a more ringing endorsement of a player who had overcome a miserable winter to captain England to their first meaningful overseas one-day trophy in nine years. Asked whether Flintoff would automatically lead the side in Vaughan's absence , Graveney said: "I'm not going to say one way or the other. The one thing I'm going to do is give Andrew some time to reintroduce himself to his family.

"We have to be honest and take the whole winter in context. We lost the Test series 5-0, we got a hammering in the Twenty20, we lost the first few games in the one-dayers. It's great that we won the last four and won a trophy. But I need to have a full and frank discussion with Freddie about how he views captaincy."

Graveney defended the selection of the 21-year-old Bopara, who played only once during the CB Series, instead of Loye, who appeared in seven matches. "Mal Loye did nothing wrong, but he came in as a replacement for Michael Vaughan and two spare batsmen would be top heavy. Bopara is a multi-dimensional player and a big-match player. He brings energy on to the stage."

And despite the fact that the ungainly Commonwealth Bank Trophy was gleaming to his right, Graveney refused to be seduced by winning it. "I read some comments recently saying that we shouldn't turn up in the Caribbean," he said. "Now I read we are second favourites. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. If we play well we are a match for any team."

Squad


Michael Vaughan Yorkshire


ODI batting average 27.70


ODI bowling average 46.83

Ed Joyce Middlesex


ODI batting average 26.58


ODI bowling average -

Ian Bell Warwickshire


ODI batting average 37.80


ODI bowling average 14.66

Andrew Strauss Middlesex


ODI batting average 32.66


ODI bowling average -

Kevin Pietersen Hampshire


ODI batting average 56.50


ODI bowling average 91.00

Paul Collingwood Durham


ODI batting average 34.05


ODI bowling averagee 36.79

Andrew Flintoff Lancashire


ODI batting average 33.52


ODI bowling average 26.41

Paul Nixon Leicestershire


ODI batting average 11.55


ODI bowling average -

Ravinder Bopara Essex


ODI average



ODI bowling average 19.00

Jamie Dalrymple Middlesex


ODI batting average 21.86


ODI bowling average 42.64

Monty Panesar Northants


ODI batting average 6.00


ODI bowling average 37.88

Jon Lewis Gloucestershire


ODI batting average 6.60


ODI bowling average 25.70

James Anderson Lancashire


ODI batting average 7.41


ODI bowling average 26.51

Liam Plunkett Durham


ODI batting average 23.45


ODI bowling average 35.82

Sajid Mahmood Lancashire


ODI batting average 9.22


ODI bowling average 41.38

World Cup itinerary


England's Group C

Wed 14 3rd Match Canada v Kenya

Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Fri 16 7th Match England v New Zealand


Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Sun 18 11th Match Canada v England


Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Tue 20 15th Match Kenya v New Zealand

Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Thu 22 19th Match Canada v New Zealand

Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Sat 24 23rd Match England v Kenya


Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia