Vaughan was arguably England's greatest captain (From Stroud News and Journal)

Vaughan was arguably England's greatest captain

11:40am Friday 3rd July 2009

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AFTER 82 Tests at an average of 41.44, 51 of which were as captain with 26 wins, Michael Vaughan,34, has decided to hang up his boots.

Although not an immediate loss to English cricket with regards the imminent Ashes battle, it is still an emotional farewell from a player who at times was exceptional at others average, but was arguably the best English captain of all time. certainly his name may be muttered in the same breath as Mike Brearley’s who many regard as the best captain of all time.

Indeed, many regard his book alone, ‘the art of captaincy’, as the definitive tome on cricket captaincy and management.

It is almost a exactly a year since Vaughan resigned the England captaincy in an emotional press conference at Edgbaston which not only gave notice of the huge privilege of holding such a title but also the worth of this title to such a man.

Others have held the post and resigned from the post without even so much as the bat of an eyelid. Vaughan, like his predecessor Nasser Hussain lived and breathed English cricket and worked like clockwork with former coach Fletcher. Both were complete opposites.

Where Hussain ruled with an iron fist Vaughan ruled with a rye smile and unnerving gaze.

His defining moments both as a player and captain came against the old foe, Australia. In the Ashes series Down-under 2002-3, he took the Aussie bowlers to the sword scoring 633 runs in the series, albeit for a losing cause. At this point he looked as good as anyone in the world!

As captain, regaining the Ashes in 2005 was without doubt his finest hour.

He remained completely unflappable throughout the series barely letting go of his emotions and exuding confidence through his body language, at all times giving hope to his soldiers.

All this tension resulting in a bus top ride around London! Well done Michael Vaughan.

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