Cricket story by Boris Webb, Tue, 01 Nov 2005 12:48:00 GMT


England skipper Michael Vaughan and his deputy Marcus Trescothick joined volunteers in helping distribute food and medicine to the survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit the sub-continent last month.

The two flew with the 27 Squadron, from RAF Odiham in Hampshire into the worst affected areas in Pakistan just hours before their practice match with the Patron XI. They visited Reban and Pir Pants villiages in the Bagh region and helped unload essential supplies. Afterwards a visibly moved Vaughan said, "It hit home when we went to the hospital that this was a massive disaster.

But when you get up to the scene of the earthquake it's something else. You can see the roofs of the houses from up above but then you realise the buildings have come down. When you are delivering aid it's amazing to see so many kids still smiling, although what they have to smile about is anyone's guess."

Vaughan, Trescothick, Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard had visited the hospital on Friday to check on the victims and the whole England team has become one in this effort to help out in whatever way they can. The earthquake claimed 65,000 lives though unofficial figures put the claim as nearing 75,000.

"Every one of the players would have loved to have gone but there simply wasn't room. I think having the cricketers involved helps raise the morale and profile of the relief effort," said Trescothick. Meanwhile, coach Duncan Fletcher expressed satisfaction in the way the team has prepared for the series, "I'm very pleased with our preparation; the guys have shown a lot of intensity. The team has confidence after beating Australia although we must not become complacent."

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