Michael Vaughan calls on England to match all-conquering Aussies
Thursday 31 March 2016 13:51, UK
England's nerveless victory over New Zealand to reach the World Twenty20 final reminded 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan of Australia in their all-conquering pomp.
In a high-pressure last-four encounter in Delhi, England kept their cool first with the ball as Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan dried up the scoring to restrict the Kiwis to 153-8.
Jason Roy then set the tone with the bat with a sensational 78 from 44 balls before Jos Buttler's pyrotechnics helped England cruise to victory by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare against a New Zealand side that had won all of their group games.
Vaughan, who captained England in their first ever T20 international against Australia 11 years ago, has urged Eoin Morgan's men to take inspiration from Australia sides that claimed 50-over World Cup glory in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
"It is a joy to watch England play with skill, execute sensible tactical plans and bully the opposition," Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
"England simply smashed it. I have been watching England since the 1992 World Cup and I have not seen a performance in a big game as good as that.
"The way they beat New Zealand reminded me of Australia in their pomp. The difference is Australia did it regularly. England's challenge now is to prove this was not a one-off."
England's success, despite most of the squad having little or no previous experience of playing in India, augurs well for the future, according to Vaughan.
He added: "To reach a World Cup final in India with a bunch of kids and only one player who has played in the Indian Premier League, and that is Eoin Morgan who has barely scored a run, is a remarkable achievement for this England side.
"Whatever happens on Sunday (in the final), they can go home with heads held high knowing they are a force to be reckoned with in one-day cricket.
"They have every single ingredient in the batting line-up, they put in their best fielding performance of the competition in the semi-final, which shows they revel in the pressure of a big occasion, and the bowlers' confidence must have rocketed after a brilliant display at the death."
