PTI
London, Aug 20: England Test captain Michael Vaughan lavished praise on Zaheer Khan, saying the Indian pacer's out of the box ideas particularly made the going tough for the hosts and was "something we can all learn from".
"India, and Zaheer Khan in particular, deserve a lot of credit for the angles they created and the variety of their bowling," said Vaughan, who still hit a classy century in the second Test at Trent Bridge.
"On the last day at the Oval, Zaheer was still swinging the ball both ways. Using the traditional method he should have been bowling over the wicket, but he came around to the left-handers. He was changing the angles again. The guys would not have seen that before and I guarantee they would not have practised that.
"Zaheer - and I think he was the man coming up with all the ideas - kept doing the unexpected. It was fascinating to watch and something we can all learn from. That's why the series was hard," the England skipper was quoted as saying by The Observer on Sunday.
The England skipper, who is spared the hullabaloo of the one-day international, rated Zaheer above the likes of Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas and former Pakistani tearaway Wasim Akram for the way he swung the ball.
"We never really knew what was coming next. I can’t remember so much swing, not even from Chaminda Vaas or Wasim Akram. Sometimes when RP Singh was bowling around the wicket it felt as if the ball was starting at third slip," he added.
Describing coach Peter Moores as great during the series, Vaughan said coaches have to think as Zaheer did. "I've found Peter great. He's got fresh, different ideas and goes about the job in his own way... I just love coaches when they come up with new ideas.
I'm still in contact with Duncan and he always comes up with something. He's a very clever man. These coaches have to think outside the box - as Zaheer did," he said. Despite the 0-1 loss in the Test series, the 32-year-old Vaughan said his inexperienced team proved itself.
"I'm more optimistic about this England team than I was four weeks ago," he said and added "it's been a very productive summer for me (with no fitness trouble)". Vaughan said it was a bonus for him to be playing again after the injury.
"I told myself that when I came back I couldn’t be too desperate because sometimes when you are so desperate to prove people wrong it all goes awry. "I was so keen on enjoying batting again and that helped me play in the manner I have. I've not felt any pressure at the crease.
I hope I can continue in that mentality for a few more years. Maybe I recognised it was a bonus to be playing again." Vaughan has also not ruled out a return to the one-day side. He has four pro40 games on the horizon for Yorkshire as well as three championship matches.
"Darren Gough rings all the time to ask how the off-spinners are coming out. I have to produce for Yorkshire to stake my claim. I'm in the ranks like other county players now."