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Vaughan blames county game for mental softness Cricket Fourth Test

CRICKET: Michael Vaughan criticised the domestic structure for failing to produce players "mentally tough enough" for international…

Tue Aug 26 2003 - 01:00

CRICKET: Michael Vaughan criticised the domestic structure for failing to produce players "mentally tough enough" for international cricket following England's 191-run defeat by South Africa in the fourth Test.

The England captain claimed the country's county game was partly responsible for the national team's failings, underlined at Headingley when his side failed to exploit their advantage on several occasions.

South Africa escaped from 21 for four and then added 200 runs for their last three wickets in the first innings before 129 runs in only 26 second-innings overs effectively batted England out of the Test.

Their victory was completed yesterday morning when England slumped to 209 all out with their last five wickets falling for 40 runs after all-rounder Jacques Kallis claimed four for 16 in 33 balls.

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Vaughan is in no doubt as to the reasons for England's troubles: "I think over the last few years a lot of England teams have been very similar. When you get on top of an opposition in Test cricket, especially against a good side like South Africa, you have to make those situations count - we didn't do that here and we haven't done it in the past very well.

"The English game is progressing nicely but I think we have to start looking deeper than that now.

"Situations have arisen in games before and we haven't quite been ruthless enough to take that opportunity and maybe that stems from the amount of cricket we've been playing.

"I think we have to be honest enough now - we're not really producing the amount of players who are mentally tough enough for Test match cricket.

"It comes from within, but if you get a guy young enough you can install that in them. If you look back throughout the years, English players have had that laid-back attitude where we play so much county cricket that it can get boring."

He added: "They play, they never get chance to get in the nets and work on their skills and work on the mental side so if you're struggling you basically work it out in the middle."

England's selectors will discuss the squad for the final Test, due to be announced on Friday, with doubts of Martin Bicknell (hamstring), James Kirtley (shin splints) and Nasser Hussain (toe).