Former England
captain Michael Vaughan has admitted he was wrong to say Alastair Cook should be
replaced as skipper of the national side.
Vaughan
called for
Cook to be replaced by Eoin Morgan after defeat by India in the second Test
at Lord's last month.
But he acknowledged back-to-back Test wins since showed it was a "fantastic
decision" to retain the 29-year-old.
"No question, I was wrong," said Vaughan on BBC Radio 5 live's
the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket
Show.
"Two and a half weeks ago, I said a break would've done him good.
England v India Test series
|
|
1st Test |
Trent Bridge |
Drawn |
|
2nd Test |
Lord's |
India won by 95 runs |
|
3rd Test |
Southampton |
England won by 266 runs |
|
4th Test |
Old Trafford |
England won by an innings and 54 runs |
|
5th Test |
The Oval |
- |
"But the England and Wales Cricket Board stood by him, he was strong and
said: 'I'm the man to carry this young team forward.'"
England went 10 Tests without a win before
securing a 266-run victory
in the third Test of the five-match series with India, in Southampton.
That was followed by
a crushing innings victory
inside three days at Old Trafford last week, which gave England a 2-1 lead
ahead of the final Test at The Oval, which starts on Friday.
Cook is without a Test century since May 2013, but ended a run of poor form
with scores of 95 and 70 at the Rose Bowl.
And Ashes winner Vaughan, who captained England between 2003 and 2008,
believes the first day of the Test in Southampton may well have been a turning
point for Cook.
He said: "He got off to a great start by winning the toss, batted first and
he went out there and played brilliantly to score 95.
Play media
Michael Vaughan called for Cook to step down as England captain
after defeat at Lord's
"There was a bit of fortune when he was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja at third
slip on 15 - and I think that one catch is the real twist of the whole series.
"If Jadeja had caught Cook on 15, I really felt at that time, it would've
been a disaster for the side."
Vaughan's comments came on the day centuries from Ravi Bopara and captain
James Taylor saw
England Lions to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in their triangular one-day series.
Essex all-rounder Bopara, who hit 106 in Worcester, said the likes of Lions
wicketkeeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow and batsmen Alex Hales, James Vince and
Jason Roy could force their way into the England squad for next year's one-day
World Cup.
"I've always been impressed with Alex Hales," said Bopara, 29. "He's a
brilliant batsman.
"Every player in that top six has a chance of being in the World Cup squad.
Those players can dominate an attack."
Bopara also backed fast bowler Steven Finn, who was sent home by England
after a catastrophic loss
of form during a disastrous tour of Australia during the winter, to return
to the Test side.
"I think Finny is bowling brilliantly. He's fast, he's confident. He'll
definitely be a shout for the fifth Test. I'm always impressed," said Bopara.
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