Vaughan Returns to the Tri-Series...

Vaughan Returns to the Tri-Series

They were thrashed in the Ashes and their recent limited-overs record is abysmal, but England hope the return of captain Michael Vaughan will boost their fortunes in the triangular One-Day series in Australia.

With the World Cup just months away, the tournament, starting on Friday, is an important chance for England, Australia and New Zealand to hone their One-Day skills and Vaughan returns to lead an English side seemingly in disarray.

Under the leadership of Andrew Flintoff, they became the first English side to lose an Ashes series 5-0 in more than 80 years, they have not won a match since they arrived on Australian soil more than two months ago, and their One-Day International record offers little comfort, with just seven wins in their past 27 games.

On Tuesday, in Vaughan's first game back at the helm, the English were again humbled by Australia, this time in a Twenty20 clash.

England open the triangular series at Melbourne on Friday, in another daunting clash with an Australian team strongly favoured to win its third World Cup in succession in the West Indies.
Speaking after the loss on Tuesday, Vaughan admitted the English were struggling, but said they hoped to gain some momentum in the triangular series.

"We've just got to make sure that over the next couple of days we think up a strategy for the One-Day game to try to build up for the World Cup," Vaughan said.

"Playing the No1 One-Day team in the world in their own backyard is going to be pretty difficult, but there's no reason why we can't try to compete and try to beat them in a few of these games.

"That's the main aim of the team now - to try to develop this thinking towards being successful in the One-Day game."

It is an unenviable position in which the 2005 Ashes hero finds himself, as he struggles with his own game as he returns from knee surgery and tries to rebuild England's shattered confidence.
He has not played a One-Day International since July 12, 2005 and his record in limited-overs cricket is modest, averaging 28.36 with a strike rate of 68.