Vaughan and Warne lock horns

/ Editor / 01 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Michael Vaughan will on Wednesday resume his 2005 Ashes duel with spin king Shane Warne when table-topping Yorkshire travel to take on Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Vaughan completed his first outing for Yorkshire Phoenix since returning from a disappointing World Cup campaign with England at the weekend as they ran out 42-run winners over Scottish Saltires in Edinburgh.

Vaughan hit five boundaries in his 31 before he edged Craig Wright to wicket-keeper Colin Smith in the Friends Provident Trophy match.

The England captain will be hoping to kick on and get some early-season runs under his belt after a poor showing in the Caribbean in which he managed just 209 runs at an average of 23.22 from his nine outings, with a top score of 79.

By contrast, star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who will not play for Hampshire until May 9 following his exploits in the West Indies, managed 444 runs at an average of 55.5, top scoring with 104.

Vaughan and Warne will be renewing their rivalry from the epic 2005 Ashes Series when the legendary leg spinner took 40 wickets despite ending up on the losing side as Vaughan guided England to Ashes glory.

Australian Warne has a healthy respect for under-fire Vaughan and said recently that he should keep his place in the England one day side but that he should be dropped down the batting order, adding he is "the best England captain".

Punters are unable to separate the two counties in the Match Odds market, with unbeaten Yorkshire trading at 2.32 in a developing market to beat Hampshire (2.2) when the two form teams meet.