Vaughan support for Strauss appointment
Michael Vaughan backs new England captain Andrew Strauss
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England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen and head coach Peter Moores have left their posts after their ongoing dispute came to a head at an emergency ECB meeting earlier this week. |  |
Thursday, 08, Jan 2009 10:39
Michael Vaughan has given his backing to new England captain Andrew Strauss as the man to unite a 'fractured' dressing room in time for the 2009 Ashes.
The former England skipper gave a ringing endorsement to the Middlesex batsman, who succeeded Kevin Pietersen yesterday after he resigned over a difference of opinion with coach Peter Moores.
Moore was also sacked over the dispute, which appears to have divided the England dressing room.
But Vaughan believes Strauss is the individual to get everyone playing together as a team again.
"If there is one man who can get the England team to gel and bring the players together after weeks, or even months, of damaging rumours, it is Andrew Strauss," Vaughan told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"In the 18 months since Peter Moores took over as coach the results have not been good, but I think Strauss will be a very, very good captain.
"Strauss is getting the job at the right time, when playing at his best.
"He gathers his thoughts before he speaks. He man-manages people well. He is respected in our dressing room and in dressing rooms around the world.
"Such a decent man can bring back maturity and stability to the England team."
Strauss' first responsibility since being made skipper will be to lead a disjointed side, who are low on confidence after Test and one-day series losses in India late last year, on a tour of the West Indies.
He is also set to captain the team in the return series against the Caribbean side as England look to build towards the Ashes in the summer.