The form of the fast bowler will have an enormous influence on England's aspirations of winning the Ashes but they may decide to protect him from some early bruises in the hope that he will inflict them later on. The short run: How Vaughan is bottom of the one-day captains' class * R PONTING (Australia) Matches 222 Runs 7,987 Average 42.25 100s 17* S GANGULY (India) Matches 271 Runs 9,967 Average 41.18 100s 22* G SMITH (South Africa) Matches 68 Runs 2,609 Average 40.76 100s 4* INZAMAM-UL-HAQ (Pakistan) Matches 344 Runs 10,933 Average 39.90 100s 10* M ATAPATTU (Sri Lanka)Matches 225 Runs 7,296 Average 37.80 100s 11* S CHANDERPAUL (West Indies)Matches 175 Runs 5,188 Average 36.53 100s 3* S FLEMING (New Zealand)Matches 235 Runs 6,648 Average 32.11 100s 6* M VAUGHAN (England)Matches 66 Runs 1,598 Average 28.54 100s 0. It would be no surprise if David James was among last night's insomniacs in the city that never sleeps. The Manchester City goalkeeper arrived in the United States seeking belated redemption for last September's error against Austria, the one which cost him his place in the England team, but suddenly found himself punching thin air as he charged from his goal at Soldier Field on Saturday. This match is a warm-up for critical qualifiers against Peru and Ecuador next week.
They are likely to include Juan Pablo Angel, the Aston Villa striker. The question obsessing US Soccer is how many will stay on to watch Metrostars play Chicago Fire? Yes, England and Colombia are the warm-up act for a regular MLS game.The other question is whether Becks and Co will be a tough act to follow for Fire's Ivan Guerrero, the Honduran who had an inconsequential spell at Coventry City, and Metrostars' 37-year-old Youri Djorkaeff?England's probable team 1 James (Manchester C)2 G Johnson (Chelsea) 3 Brown (Manchester U) 4 Knight (Fulham) 5 A Cole (Arsenal)6 Beckham (Real Madrid) 7 Jenas (Newcastle U) 8 Carrick (Tottenham) 9 J Cole (Chelsea) 10 Owen (Real Madrid) 11 Crouch (Southampton). "If we play well it will motivate the people," he said, "but if we don't get a good result there's a chance that the public's lack of belief in the team will affect the atmosphere when we host Peru."The atmosphere within the Giants Stadium will be closely monitored by a US Soccer Federation forever seeking signs of interest in their "un-American" sport A gate of around 50,000 is expected. Reinaldo Rueda, the coach, is looking for a good performance not just to lift his players but also support back home ahead of the qualifiers. Colombia's strength is in defence with Galatasaray's goalkeeper Farid Mondragon protected by the uncompromising combination of Internazionale's Ivan Cordoba and Mario Yepes of Paris St-Germain. Few other players will be familiar to English audiences but expect scouts to assess the performances of his strike partner Edixon Perea, a lively 21-year-old still playing in domestic football.
I will ice the ankle now but I'm confident I'll be fit."This is a big lift for me because on Friday I was devastated. It is not every day that you are in line for your England debut." The Colombians also have Germany 2006 on their minds. Further forward, Peter Crouch should make his England debut after coming through training yesterday. "I'm really pleased," said Crouch who missed Saturday's match with an ankle injury "It was 50-50 going into this final training session I did have doubts about making it but I've come through. In the centre Wes Brown, who is expected to play despite missing training with a calf injury, has to improve on Saturday's display or could be overtaken in the pecking order by his partner, Zat Knight, who will be making his first start.In midfield David Beckham would like to show the American public his inflated reputation is justified "he's not a diva", Eriksson told the US press yesterday while Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas are playing for places in the World Cup squad and Joe Cole for a spot in the starting XI.
