Wednesday 20 May 2015 12:25, UK
England cannot afford a poor performance in the first Test against New Zealand if the team is to move on from the Kevin Pietersen saga, says Michael Vaughan.
Alastair Cook will lead his side out at Lord’s on Thursday for the first match since England’s new director of cricket, Andrew Strauss appeared to rule out a return for exiled batsman Pietersen.
Paul Farbrace has been appointed caretaker coach following the sacking of Peter Moores and former England skipper Vaughan told Sky Sports he faces a crunch few days.
“I think it’s a really big week for the team,” he said. “You look at the conditions outside – it’s wet and it’s windy and I’m sure the ball is going to be swinging around at Lord’s on Thursday. There will be a little bit of green tinge in the pitch.
“The only way that England are going to get away from the Kevin Pietersen story is to play well and get a win under their belts.
“It’s not going to be easy because the New Zealanders are a quality side. Take McCullum’s captaincy – it really is a joy to watch someone who is so aggressive and innovative in the field. He’s got a bowling attack that allows him to be an inventive captain.
“So it’s so important that the four bowlers that England pick - James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood, if he makes his debut, and Chris Jordan or Ben Stokes – put England on the front foot because if it goes wrong and England have a bad week then I’m afraid the story is going to be more about Pietersen.
“If the batting order doesn’t fire then everybody is going to be asking ‘why isn’t Kevin Pietersen back in the team?’”
The hunt continues for Moores’ successor after former Australia opener Justin Langer ruled himself out of the running.
Compatriot Jason Gillespie – coach of Yorkshire – says he has not been contacted by the ECB but remains one of the favourites to get the job and Vaughan believes he’d do a ‘fantastic’ job.
“Gillespie would bring a bit of normality. He’s got a good sense of the game; he’s been there and done it with that great, great Australian side that he played for.
“What he’s brought to Yorkshire is the normality of what cricket is – it’s a game; he doesn’t over-complicate it. He lets players make their own decisions – he gives them the definition of their roles and says ‘right, you go and deliver it’.
“He realises that the brand of cricket that you play is very important. The brand of cricket that he’s played at Yorkshire is one that’s won a Championship and done pretty well in one-day cricket as well.
“He’s a good man to have around the dressing room – he’s full of positivity, full of energy; he has the know-how of what it is you need at the highest level.
“If England can persuade him and get him to go for the role, I’m pretty sure he’ll do a fantastic job.”
England v New Zealand on Sky Sports (all games on Sky Sports 2)
First Test (Lord’s): 10am, Thursday, May 21
Second Test (Headingley): 10.30am, Friday, May 29
First ODI (Edgbaston): 1.30pm, Tuesday, June 9
Second ODI (The Oval): 12.30pm, Friday, June 12
Third ODI (The Ageas Bowl): 10am, Sunday, June 14
Fourth ODI (Trent Bridge): 1.30pm, Wednesday, June 17
Fifth ODI (Emirates Durham ICG): 10am, Saturday, June 20
Only T20I (Old Trafford): 6pm, Tuesday, June 23
