Cricket: Top Ashes Batsman

Michael Vaughan was the leading runscorer in the last Ashes Series. It marked the high point of his batting career; three centuries in Australia,
the number one ranking in the world and victory in his duel with Glenn McGrath. Since then, his reputation has grown as a captain, but not as a batsman.

But 12/1 with Sporting Odds seems a particularly generous price for the
Yorkshireman to be the leading scorer in the Test series. The Australian seamers have already started preying on the technical weaknesses of Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss.
Graham Thorpe, hampered by a failing body,
has specialised in 'important' runs, rather than prolific scoring, while Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are all Ashes rookies.

Of course, Messrs Ponting, Hayden, Langer, Martyn and Gilchrist are all contenders to be the leading batsman in the series. But Vaughan outscored
them all in 2002-3, just as the West Indian opener Chris Gayle outscored the England batsmen last summer; a player in a losing team is likely to get more innings.

So for those who expect Australia to retain the Ashes, Vaughan represents good value for money.



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