The Ashes: Vaughan says England have been 'average' since 1992
Michael Vaughan's long-awaited return to the leadership of the England cricket team was marked by a blunt analysis of their one-day prospects in the run-up to March's World Cup in the West Indies. "I think you can go back to 1992 since we last had a really good [one-day] side," Vaughan admitted yesterday. "If we're honest, since then we've been very average in World Cups."
Apart from the 2004 Champions Trophy final on home soil, when they were beaten by West Indies, England have not threatened to win a major one-day trophy since reaching the 1992 World Cup final, and expectations are low for the coming weeks, starting with tomorrow's Twenty20 match against Australia.
"I realise there will be effects from the 5-0 Ashes whitewash. I know when we lost the Ashes 4-1 four years ago that it did have an effect for a while. There will be a few mental frailties after what's happened, but that can soon change once you start winning a couple of games. What is important now is that we draw up a strategy and stick with it for the next four months," said Vaughan, who had surgery on his right knee last year and has not played for England since December 2005.
"I hope we can win a few games, entertain a few people and try and get that freedom of expression back in the players. That's my job in the next few weeks - that they don't feel inhibited, they don't feel scared and take Australia and New Zealand on in this one-day series."
England's fortunes almost mirror Vaughan's own career at one-day level, where he has continually under-performed, averages 28 from 74 appearances and has yet to score a century.
"It's [his form] been a bit like the team's - inconsistent," he said. "But the year I have had has made me a more rounded person. Being away from the team gives you a bit more of a perspective."
He now faces the challenge of stepping up to the top level again, having played most of his comeback games for the Academy against second-team players or for the MCC against players of all ages. Vaughan added: "A 74-year-old got me out the other day, so playing against Brett Lee is going to be a different challenge."