mvaughan

I don't really like being asked to compare this England side with that of other eras. The quality of the opposition changes, the players change, pitches change, the role of technology in the game changes and even the way the game is played is somewhat different. Who would have thought ten or fifteen years ago we'd have Test matches where for large parts of the game batsmen are scoring at [b]four an over[/b] for example? My side of 2005 was an outstanding team full of really talented players and very strong characters. We weren't able to go on and successfully defend the Ashes in 2006-7 because of a number of factors, not least a bad run of injuries. In general terms, we didn't really build on that as many hoped we would after that outstanding 2005 success but it should never be forgotten...

[b]As England rack up the runs on day two in Melbourne, Michael Vaughan can see no way back for the Aussies. He does however have some sympathy for Ricky Ponting.[/b] After dominant performances with ball and bat, the fourth Ashes Test is[b] England's[/b] all the way. I thought they were the value bet at the start of the Test and, after two terrific days, the Betfair market agrees, with Andrew Strauss' men in to 1.18 to win. There is so much time left in the game and I think England can bowl Australia out again, probably for around [b]250[/b]. There is so much pressure on the [b]Aussies[/b], they are playing with so little confidence and some players are playing for their places in the team. I can easily envisage them folding again in the second innings and concentrating on ...

There's been plenty of chat in the Media and amongst former Test stars about the conduct of the players during the Third Test. Too much sledging, exuberant celebrations at key moments, bowlers giving dismissed players the send off. It's over the top, it's not in the [b]spirit of cricket[/b], they say. I disagree. This is the Ashes after all, the battle that English and Australian players grow up watching and dream of playing in. There's huge pressure and huge tension out there so it's normal that when a player wins a mini-battle, be it dismissing a key batsman or getting to a century, emotions are displayed. It's how players, for a brief moment, relieve the pressure. As for sledging, this is Test cricket. If you can't take it and let it get to you, you're not cut out to be playing...

[b]England are the value ahead of the Fourth Test at the MCG but the form of Mike Hussey is a concern for would-be backers of the tourists. Either way, a draw is highly unlikely, says Michael Vaughan.[/b] So it's all square again with two to play. The bad news for England fans is that Australia are the ones carrying the momentum, the good news is that this pitch should suit England a lot more than what they were up against at Perth. I haven't actually seen the pitch yet but I'd expect it to have a little bit of grass on it early on and for it to flatten out a bit as the match progresses. It's very unlikely the ball will swing like it did last time or carry through with the same amount of pace and that should mean [b]Mitchell Johnson[/b] shouldn't be able to have the same sort of...