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Batting failure concerns Vaughan

02/11/2005

England captain Michael Vaughan has admitted that his side's dismal display with the bat in the recently concluded first three-day tour match in Pakistan is cause for concern.

Vaughan's side managed to defeat the Patron's XI at Rawalpindi today but only thanks to the incisive bowling of Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett.

The worrying aspect is that the home side were set just 158 to claim victory against England, after a first innings of 256 for 9 was added to by just 112 runs in the second.

Apart from Marcus Trescothick's unbeaten 124 and Matt Prior's half century, both in the first innings, all of England's stars disappointed.

Of particular note, Vaughan himself registered nine runs and a duck, Kevin Pietersen hit just two and then ten, while Andrew Strauss went for five and then six.

And the skipper admits that work is needed to regain confidence and get back to their Ashes-winning form.

"Yes it is a concern but you've got to remember Test match cricket and Test match wickets are a totally different mentality," he said.

"We have by no means established our Test team yet. We'll certainly have to talk about it over the next few days.

"The batsmen haven't spent enough time at the middle but I felt for them on this kind of wicket and they will improve next week."

Vaughan did take time to praise Durham youngster Plunkett, who took seven wickets for 57 runs in his first international outing.

"He's got a lot of potential, some good pace about him and he used the conditions very well," Vaughan added.

"He looks to have a good physique for bowling, he can bat as well and he's a good fielder. Hopefully he'll have a good career ahead of him."

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