Michael Vaughan reckons being without the burden of the England captaincy could revive his fortunes with the bat in the one day game.
The Yorkshire batsman hopes his decision to stand down could "unleash the shackles" on his run-scoring potential, if he is given another chance in limited overs internationals.
Vaughan gave up the one day captaincy following England's disappointing World Cup campaign in the Carribean earlier this year.
PHOTO: AFP
He has since been dropped from the England squads for the ongoing seven-match one day series against India and next month's inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.
Vaughan, 32, says he remains available for limited overs international cricket, if selected.
He has also regularly admitted to being mystified at his mediocre limited overs average of 27.15 -- compared to a Test figure in the mid-40s -- and is hoping that a new freedom from the extra responsibility of leading the team could help him perform.
"Maybe by playing as a non-captain will just unleash the shackles, and I just go out and just have a go and I become a better player," he told the NatWest cricket Web site.
Should he be granted the opportunity to add to his 86 one day international caps, Vaughan can expect to be doing so under Paul Collingwood -- who replaced him as the captain of the one day team.
"Only time will tell -- but certainly in a year if I'm fit and firing I'd like another opportunity. But that's down to `Colly' to select me," he said.
Before then, Vaughan has a word of warning for England in the ongoing seven-match series against India -- to beware an unlikely danger man in the tourists' ranks.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar is not top of most people's lists as the man most likely to haul India back from an opening defeat at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.
But Vaughan said: "He's a clever, clever bowler who will be a big threat to us in the middle period."
"He's got very consistent wickets -- going for less than three-and-a-half an over for the majority of the games he's played -- so there'll be a big, big questions to be answered when we go out and bat against him," Vaughan said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and