Vaughan Carried Off On Stretcher..

[Pete]

Vaughany's just been carried off on a stretcher, during the practice sessions at lords. I don't know anymore, just seen it on skysports news.

[Whips_off_the_bails]

It doesn't sound good. From sporting-life:

"England were today dealt a huge injury blow ahead of Thursday's opening Test against New Zealand when captain Michael Vaughan collapsed in agony during a net session at Lord's.

Vaughan, 29, stretched for a wide ball while batting in the nets on the Nursery Ground and slipped, falling to the turf and seemingly damaged his right knee.

Although he rose with a grin on his face and threw the ball back, he screamed in agony seconds later and physiotherapist Kirk Russell was soon on the scene."

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

It doesn't sound good. From sporting-life:

"England were today dealt a huge injury blow ahead of Thursday's opening Test against New Zealand when captain Michael Vaughan collapsed in agony during a net session at Lord's.

Vaughan, 29, stretched for a wide ball while batting in the nets on the Nursery Ground and slipped, falling to the turf and seemingly damaged his right knee.

Although he rose with a grin on his face and threw the ball back, he screamed in agony seconds later and physiotherapist Kirk Russell was soon on the scene."

poor guy. hope he´s alright and makes it to the tests - that is a huge blow indeed.

[Mike_Hock]

That really doesn't sound good.

[Captain Applehead]

Who would be Captain? Tresco? Freddie?

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Captain Applehead

Who would be Captain? Tresco? Freddie?

Tresco, as vice captain, would take over. Who would open the batting with him? Butcher maybe, and then Collingwood comes in as extra batsman, or Strauss comes in as a like-for-like replacement.

The reports I've read of the injury sound like it's pretty bad. This is a real worry - if one of the bowlers had got injured, we'd almost have expected it, but this is a bolt from the blue. Vaughan has, I think, been ever-present in the side for about two years.

[Jon Marks]

Is it likely a replacement will be called up? If the original plan was to play Collingwood as one of 7 batsmen then Strauss or Key should surely be penciled in. Otherwise Butcher is a ready made opening alternative with Collingwood slotting into the middle order. But that leaves us either playing Giles (pointless in these conditions?) or 5 seamers (pointless in any conditions, and requiring a 4 man tail, which, considering the inexperience of G Jones and Collingwood, would seem to make a little risky)

[Whips_off_the_bails]

The latest news is no better. And he has a history of knee problems. From sporting-life's updated report:

"The accident happened at around 2.30pm and within minutes, after consultation with Dr Peter Gregory, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer and team biomechanist Nigel Stockill, Vaughan had a knee brace placed around the problem joint.

He was then stretchered into a waiting car and taken to the dressing room for further examination. He is expected to undergo scans this evening.

Yorkshire's Vaughan has had knee trouble in the past; he missed the 2001 Ashes after injuring his left knee and had his right knee cleaned out ahead of his man-of-the-series displays against the Australians in the winter of 2002-03."

[kriss]

.
If Vaughan is out then I hope they give Hussain the captaincy. It’d be a slap for Trescothick but this isn’t the time for the inexperienced and he’s got enough to concentrate on with his poor form.

I think Butcher should open and either play Collingwood or bring in Key.

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

The latest news is no better. And he has a history of knee problems. From sporting-life's updated report:

"The accident happened at around 2.30pm and within minutes, after consultation with Dr Peter Gregory, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer and team biomechanist Nigel Stockill, Vaughan had a knee brace placed around the problem joint.

He was then stretchered into a waiting car and taken to the dressing room for further examination. He is expected to undergo scans this evening.

Yorkshire's Vaughan has had knee trouble in the past; he missed the 2001 Ashes after injuring his left knee and had his right knee cleaned out ahead of his man-of-the-series displays against the Australians in the winter of 2002-03."

He hasn't missed a match since December 2001, the first Test vs. India. The last time he missed matches through injury was the 2001 Ashes series. He's an incredibly important member of the side and one we've come to rely on.

As to what happens if he doesn't play, his replacement depends on what side we were going to play. Despite all our pontifications, I think Fletcher was only ever going to play one of the following sides

i) Tres, Vaughan, Butcher, Hussain, Thorpe, G Jones, Flintoff, Giles, Harmison, Hoggard, Jones

ii) Tres, Vaughan, Butcher, Hussain, Thorpe, Collingwood, G Jones, Flintoff, Harmison, Hoggard, Jones

Option i) probably results in Butcher being asked to open and Collingwood coming in at No.5
Option ii) and Strauss comes in as a like-for-like replacement.

Can't really rule Rob Key out either - especially if Vaughan is out for more than one Test. Key got his first chance in the side when Tres got injured in the summer of 2002.