Vaughan - England lack mental toughness

[pies4ever]

Vaughan hits out at lack of 'mental toughness' in domestic game
Wisden CricInfo Staff - August 25, 2003

Michael Vaughan has slammed England's domestic structure for consistently failing to produce players "mentally tough enough" for international cricket. Speaking at the press conference following England's 191-run defeat by South Africa at Headingley, Vaughan explained that he thought the national side's failings were partly down to the way the first-class game is run.

"I think over the last few years a lot of England teams have been very similar," he said. "When you get on top of an opposition in Test cricket, especially against a good side like South Africa, you have to make those situations count - we didn't do that here and we haven't done it in the past very well.

"Maybe it's mental and maybe it's to do with attitudes and the way we're brought up in our game, but it's happened a hell of a lot in the past. This isn't the first time it's happened and it's really something we're going to have to look at. The English game is progressing nicely but I think we have to start looking deeper than that now.

"Situations have arisen in games before and we haven't quite been ruthless enough to take that opportunity and maybe that stems from the amount of cricket we've been playing," Vaughan continued. "Players just play and are we enthusiastic for the whole summer in the game, I'm not too sure we are. I think we have to be honest enough now. We're not really producing the amount of players who are mentally tough enough for Test match cricket.

"I'm not the guy to change things, but this should be looked at. If you arrive at a Test match you should be mentally tough enough. You pick young guys and they have to learn and a great way to do that is out in the middle, but you need guys who turn up mentally tough with a great attitude and I'm not too sure our system is allowing that at the minute.

"It comes from within, but if you get a guy young enough you can install that in them. If you look back throughout the years, English players have had that laid-back type of attitude where we play so much county cricket that it can get boring.

"Practice is a massive part of our game and we don't get a great deal of time to practice, especially county players, they're just on a treadmill. They play, they never get chance to get in the nets and work on their skills and work on the mental side so if you're struggling you basically work it out in the middle. You don't have the opportunity to go and work for hours and days with the coach and try and sort it

[STOKA35]

Michael if you lived in australia we have been saying this for years.
I think it is time for england to drop guys like stewart, butcher and build a team around yourself flintoff, trescothick harmison. from what i can see playing in england looks like social cricket as it doesnt get too hot and if you are a bowler you dont have to be quick as there is plenty of cloud cover or you might struck a wetty to seam it around, or as a batsman you strike a flat pitch the bowling is'nt quick enough to get you out.Come to australia guys like kirtly bicknell would be cannon fodder

[Donny]

[Donny]

Vaughan slammed by county chairman
Wisden Cricinfo staff - August 27, 2003

Michael Vaughan's comments in the aftermath of the Headingley defeat, that the county system was largely to blame for the national side's weaknesses, have been criticised by John Elliott, the chairman of Worcestershire.

Vaughan said that the county system did not make players tough enough, but Elliott scoffed at the claim, maintaining that it was the players themselves who were to blame. "I think he is totally out of order," Elliott fumed. "What does it say for the English county cricket clubs who are striving to improve the game and the standard of cricket in England? England should look internally. He has basically called the players a load of wimps who are not good enough to play Test cricket.

"We have done everything for them," Elliott continued. "We have given them central contracts, brought in two divisions in the County Championship and National League, made one-day cricket 45 overs etc. They have got all the help in the world with physios, psycho-analysts, dieticians and managers. They've got everything and they still can't get out there and play the game. I think they should look internally rather than complain about English county cricket."

And Elliott was unimpressed with the decision to allow several of the players to miss the next round of domestic matches. "I am in favour of central contracts but I think the system should be fine-tuned. Many a time a player is better off playing cricket than just idling around."

[Donny]