Nelson's Column... Vaughan wins contract
Despite scoring fewer runs this summer than he has legs and resigning the England captaincy, Michael Vaughan is given the cushion of an ECB Central Contract.
Poor Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara and the rest of the batsmen knocking on the door of the closed shop that is the England dressing room; they have to settle for the obscurely entitled incremental contract which nobody can quite fathom.
Surely the ECB would have been better served saving their pennies rather than cushioning the blow of Vaughan's self-imposed demotion.
This decision smacks of pure sentimentality, a reward for years of admittedly fine leadership. As the cliche reads, there's no place in sport for such an emotion. Vaughan doesn't deserve a central contract and he should be made to earn one in 2009-10 by scoring runs for Yorkshire and, if selected, England.
We all should say Thank you for the PAST and leave it at that. He has no place in the FUTURE. ECB should have given a full contract to Prior. By sticking with Vaughan it is clear that his mates are keeping him cricket as I wouldthink Yorkshire would have said GOODBYE and thanks for the memory of your past glories.
Posted by: jacjhigh | 14 September 2008 at 16:43
The fact that even Michael Vaughn himself was stunned to have got a contract, should make even those that made the decision see that it was a mistake. All summer they have sent away cricketers saying "go and prove yourself in county cricket and win back your place". I would imagine this decision totally infuriates not only the younger players but those who have been dropped and have gone back to their counties and performed. Can you imagine Ricky Ponting and the Australian selectors being as sentimental as this? I doubt it very much. Poor decision and a bad signal to sent out to those young and old players alike who are desperate to play for their country!!
Posted by: Franco | 12 September 2008 at 14:14
I am gobsmacked by the cosy room selectors decision to give Vaughan a central contract ! His batting has been poor since 2005 and cannot even score runs against county bowlers let alone against international ones !The ECB must have more money than sense !I just hope he feels suitably embarrassed when meeting up with other england players ! Yet another poor decision by Geoff Miller and his selectors !
Posted by: martin | 12 September 2008 at 07:58
this is a total joke.
vaughan has been in terrible form for club AND country.
i wish i had some mates in the ecb then maybe i'd get a central contract too.
its blatantly obvious that its just mates looking after mates.
there's going to be a few younger, more talented on form batsmen around the country using a large assortment of 4 letter words.
absolute joke.
cant even begin to vent my frustration at this
Posted by: rich | 10 September 2008 at 09:45