Michael Vaughan

So Michael Vaughan has stepped down as England's captain. The end of era to say the very least. The shock resignation of the Yorkshire player on Sunday after defeat to South Africa left people praising one of the greatest captains that England have ever produced. His record speaks for itself. He replaced Nasser Hussain in 2003 for a test match at Lord's against, ironically enough, South Africa. He led England in 51 games - only Michael Atherton has captained more games for the national side with 54 - but he won the most games out of any England captain with 26. Only Mike Brearley had a better win percentage whilst in charge of the team. His calm ...

It is not very often I feel able to say this but I think that with Vaughan, England have a top quality batsman who should open the innings in the test side. To be a top quality test batsman, you have to have certain qualities both mental and physical to be able to cope with what is going to get bowled at you in the opening overs by the best bowlers in the world. It is clear that Atherton has this ability and it is in my view an ability which Vaughan has and should capitalise on. The England batting has very rarely got off to a good start whoever has partnered Atherton. Given that Athers is not going to be around forever we need to find someone who is as capable ...

Having watched Vaughan's 92 run partnerships with Artheton agaisnt the Windies, without which England would surely have lost, it had become blatently clear who Englands test openers should be. In his first test match on home soil and under emmense pressure following Ramprkrash's trademark early dismissal, Vaughan showed composure and ability in making a superlative 41 withced confirmed what had allrewady ben established form the last winters tour to South Africa. The only positive think form that tour was the discovery of Vaughan, in the short term an answer to englands probalems at the top of the order and in the long term, a worthy successor to Athers. ...