Vaughan hopes fantastic Ashes gives cricket a lift

Former England captain Sunday Michael Vaughan hoped the forthcoming Ashes goes to the wire as the corruption-hit game needed a fantastic duel between the arch-rivals Australia and England.

"I think with what's happening in the world game over the last 12 months, so much scandal surrounding cricket, I really think a fantastic Ashes series, one that I hope will go all the way to Sydney, is just what Test cricket needs," Vaughan told reporters.

Vaughan, who led England to an Ashes series win at home in 2005 before retiring from the game three years later, said every former England captain was looking forward to the Ashes.

"I have finished my career and I am delighted I have got another career," said Vaughan, who has now become a television commentator. "But you ask any England captain over the last 30 years and they look forward to the Ashes.

"Whether they would like to be Andrew Strauss walking out at Brisbane tossing the coin with the blazer on, with the cap on, leading an England team that's settled, playing some decent cricket against an Australian team which is a good team but nothing like the one which I played against."

Vaughan, 36, said he was more excited about the Ashes than when he was playing.

"I'm actually looking forward more to this series than when I played.

"When you play you're so nervous and tense and involved in it, that you're worried about your performance and you're actually worried about winning and losing. Now I can just sit back and watch and enjoy the game."

Vaughan, who played 82 Tests and 86 one-day for England, disagreed England was over-confident.

"No I don't think so. I think they'll play quite nicely. I know Andrew Strauss is very level headed as is Andy Flower," said Vaughan about the England captain and their Zimbabwean coach.

Vaughan said the England's pre-Ashes wins will count for nothing in the first Test starting on November 25.

"That should gain some confidence and gain some form. But it counts for nothing unless we turn up at Brisbane on Thursday and produce a good first day. I really think the first day this time is going to be quite a big player in the whole of the series.

"Whoever gets in front, I think, will win the Ashes so the Brisbane game is a massive one."

Vaughan said England winning only three matches in the last five Ashes series Down Under were because of injuries.

"The last two times we've been there, we've never arrived with a settled team which we have done this time. We've not had any major injuries. All our key players are fit and playing well.

"I was injured in 2006/07, (Marcus) Trescothick went home, (Ashley) Giles was just back from an injury, Freddie (Andrew Flinoff) was coming back from an injury, (Andrew) Harmison was struggling, Simon Jones was injured.

"So we weren't a settled team. Back to 2002/03, (Darren) Gough was injured, I was injured, Freddie was injured so we had some key players injured in those series. But the main factor was the actual side that we played against which was very strong."

Vaughan said the Australian team is not as strong as it used to be.

"I think they've got a good 17-man squad which they've picked, but maybe they haven't got the depth that they used to have. You remember in 2002-03 they had the likes of Darren Lehmann, Martin Love, Stuart Law, all averaging over 60 in their domestic cricket but couldn't get into their Test team.

"I don't see that in Australian cricket at the minute, and that's just a cycle of sport, that's just what happens."

Vaughan predicted tough times for Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

"It's a hard time as captain for him. Especially when you are not sure about your team, and probably for the first time in his captaincy discuss selection a lot more and lot has changed.

"He (Ponting) has averaged 43 in the last year and over 50 in the Ashes but I think short balls will be bowled at him and that's a testing time for him."

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