Vaughan axe no surprise to Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said it was no shock to him that Michael Vaughan had been left out of England's 16-man Ashes training squad.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said it was no shock to him that Michael Vaughan had been left out of England's 16-man Ashes training squad.
Vaughan was England's captain when they last won the Ashes in 2005 on home soil after a 2-1 series success over Ponting's then side.
But the Yorkshire batsman hasn't played Test cricket since standing down from the England captaincy during last year's home series loss to South Africa and has been struggling for both runs and fitness at county level this term.
So far this season Vaughan has done little for Yorkshire to press his claims for a Test recall, scoring only 159 first-class runs at an average of 19.88 in six matches.
He has also been struggling with a longstanding knee problem.
Also omitted was fast bowler Stephen Harmison, who has been out of the Test side since being dropped during the tour of the West Indies earlier this year.
Ponting, speaking at Hove where Australia play Sussex in a four-day tour match starting on Wednesday, told reporters: "I know Vaughan and Harmison aren't in it (the squad). I'm not surprised those two guys aren't around with the way their current group have been performing of late."