Moores backs Vaughan

England coach Peter Moores has backed Michael Vaughan after the captain came in for some flak for England’s slow over-rates in the First Test against India, which contributed to the failure to finish the tourists off before bad light curtailed play.

India were 9 wickets down when play was ended and Vaughan’s leisurely field-setting time has been criticised by certain people as careless, given that the forecast was always poor.

However, Moores insisted: “I don’t think it was that influential to the outcome. It sometimes takes time to set things up and get people in the right places. I thought Michael was outstanding in trying to winkle out batsmen.”

He added: “If we’re a couple of overs short in a session because the captain has moved the field and it’s gone towards getting a wicket then it’s great. Could we have saved a minute here or 30 seconds there, could we have run a bit harder to retrieve that ball? You could go on forever.”

“You need time to think. Sometimes mistakes are made and you don’t want people rushed so it’s a fine balance. There was pressure on everybody to try and get the result. We all knew the weather was coming so there was no shock when it came and we were trying to be measured and put a lot of balls in the right place to make the most of it while we were out there.”