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Vaughan quits captaincy
One-day skipper Collingwood follows suit
Last updated: 3rd August 2008
Vaughan: 40 runs in three Tests
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Michael Vaughan has stepped down as England Test captain following the series defeat by South Africa.
Vaughan scored just 40 runs in three Tests as England lost a home series to the Proteas for the first time since 1965.
The 33-year-old Yorkshire batsman has overseen three series losses against top-class opposition since returning from a career-threatening knee injury.
Paul Collingwood has also stepped down as England one-day captain.
The England selectors will announce the new Test captain and the squad for the fourth Test at the Oval on Monday.
"I've made the decision to stand down as England captain," Vaughan told a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News.
"It's the hardest decision I've ever had to make but also the easiest. The hardest because I'm giving away the job I've loved for the last five years, one I've put my heart and soul into, but also the easiest because my mind has told me to pack it in.
"I felt if I kept going my career could come to an abrupt end - hopefully, this can prolong my career.
Exciting
"I will carry on playing because I think there are a lot more runs in me.
"This decision will prolong my career. I'm moving better than ever in the field so hopefully this decision will make my last few years a very exciting time."
Vaughan added he does not want to be considered for the final Test of the series but did not rule out a return to the Test arena in the future.
He continued: "I wish I could have given it one more go. I've had five unbelievable years, felt the emotion of all the aspects of the captaincy, but I feel it's the right time to move forward with a new captain, a new direction.
"We've lost three big series and just think it is time for someone else to lead the team in a different direction.
"I really do believe these could be the best years of my playing career and I can go on and score plenty of runs.
"It is a difficult job but a fantastic job but not many people get to do it which is a real privilege. I've loved every minute of it.
Surprise
"I think the decision came as a surprise to the players. Perhaps the one regret is that I didn't say it in front of all the players. I hope they all respect me but I hope they can understand it is the right move for me.
"I just kind of knew that it would be the right time to step down if this series ended in defeat.
"Obviously I am taking a break out of the game and then will come back and play for Yorkshire. This was an instinctive decision that this was the time to move on.
"I have some great memories - leading out my country for the first time and of course everything that happened in 2005 in the Ashes."
Kevin Pietersen is the favourite to be appointed both Test and one-day captain, but other candidates include Andrew Strauss, Robert Key and Alastair Cook.
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Comments (56)
Michael Bevan says...
It is a real shame for Michael Vaughan to quit the captincy but one we all knew was coming. Maybe if he could of had a few more runs under his belt he would of stayed on. As tinkering with field the pressure he liked to put on other teams when we batted well for his captincy skills where second to none in my veiw, pure class. robert key does look good down at kent mature batsman in form i know he just lost in a final but getting there for a second year is hard enough personally i would hand the reigns to him. simon jones jocked up 4-89 i believe just after the england defeat maybe a recall for him would not hurt and ravi bopara getting nice runs and also a bowling extra. kp shouldn't be considered for the job in my personal opinion he is the main part of the england team but he's no captin a captin on 94 does not let his ego take over, play a poor shot and get caught of paul harris. i know its his birth country he played against but i'd like to think that to be an excuse i think he still needs to learn a few things to every be one of the greats.
Posted 09:53 4th August 2008
Tom Andrews says...
Micky, you were the best. I don't believe that you have anything to be sorry for. I believe that the media has alot of questions to answer regarding the pressures the put on Vaugie. Personally I think that the questions need to be asked regarding Mr Moores capibility as coach. He seems to me not to have the backing of the players, unlike Vaugie, who as left with shock as despair of his team mates. Sack me Moores and the backroom staff.
Posted 09:39 4th August 2008
Sam Cc says...
i would like to thank vaughan for the wonderful job that he has done for england as captain and he will go down as one of the greats of english cricket. i can't wait to see back playing for england once he has had a break and got some runs for Yorkshire as he is a sensational batsmen and he captaincy has riuned his batting as he has to focus on evryone else. i think that the captaincy should go to rob key as he has showd that he can captain and still get lots of runs for kent. key can also play in all forms of the game so we would only need one captain. i would not give pietersen the captaincy as he is our best player and he needs to be left alone to focus on his own performance. my team would be: a.cook batsmen a.strauss captain r.key batsmen k.pietersen batsmen i.bell batsmen m.prior wicketkeeper a.flintoff all-rounder s.broad all-rounder s.harmison bowler s.jones bowler m.panesar/ j.anderson depending on pitch
Posted 09:08 4th August 2008
Darren King says...
Key (c) cook Shah Pieterson Bell Flintoff broad Foster (got to be in) Jones Anderson Panesar.... (bopara offers another all rounder spot)
Posted 09:08 4th August 2008
Arthur Smith says...
Thank you Michael. You have been a great servant to Engand Test cricket. However, it is obvious that form took a dip after the break due to injury and it is now time to move on. I would like to see Kevin Pieterson take up the captaincy. He has a fine cricketing brain and is inspirational to the other team members. However I do hope that this will not inhibit his natural cavalier approach because he plays his best cricket when in this mode. Good luck KP, we are behind you.
Posted 09:03 4th August 2008
Richard Snowden says...
i think Vaughan was the finest captain of the last 20 years. he had a great tactical mind and at times he was one of the best batsmen in the world. It will be sad to see him go but i think the country deserves a fresh start. I think Andrew Flintoff is the ideal england captain. he is a fine all rounder and he installs the fighting spirit back into any team he plays in.
Posted 08:46 4th August 2008
Abhish Bhattacharya says...
Brave & Straightforward decision from a Brave & Straightforward Crickter. Very unfortunate that he could not handover the captaincy on a high but in such circumstances. Spare KP the trauma attached with being the captain of the test squad & let him focus on his batting. Alistair Cook would be a good choice & one should let him develop in to the role over the next 2 years, or else the cupboard is rather bare at the moment...
Posted 07:14 4th August 2008
Thomas White says...
FIRSTLY everyone should stop, think and then thank Michael for his job, he is the sol and main reason why we have been one of the best test nations in the last 5 years! Also now Vaughan is no longer captain, we cant afford to have him in the team making no runs. Bring in Shah. Also as good as cook is, he isnt making any hundreds and nor is strauss...one of these must go for rob key and then id like to see prior back in the team. Plus bring in one of our stronger bowlers (jones or hoggard) for Collingwood or a bowler..we need to gt 20 WICKETS!! England team: Key, Cook, Shah, Pietersen (C), Bell, Flintoff, Prior, Sidebottom, Jones, Anderson, Panesar WHAT A TEAM!!!!
Posted 06:20 4th August 2008
Darren Thearle says...
The question is do the selectors want the same captain for Test matches + One Day matches & 20/20 because if they do, i can think of only three players that are guarenteed a place in all three teams, Pieterson, Flintoff & Trescothick. As Trescothick is 90% sure to be unavailable to tour, that leaves two and I think Freddy burned his bridges with management with regards captaincy so that leaves Pieterson unless you name different captains for Test & One Day games. Either way you can stick a fork in Vaughan because he is done ! the captaincy kept him in the team but he is an average cpt & a poor bat with no foot movement and dodgy knees living off his name as Ashes winning captain.
Posted 02:25 4th August 2008
Sean Wright says...
I think Vaughan could still have turned it around before the Ashes next year but if his head says its time then fair enough. But his talent with the bat is still with him I feel and he should continue to be selected for forthcoming tests after the SA series ends. Well done on a wonderful 5 years :)
Posted 01:14 4th August 2008
Mike Gilford says...
I think it is the wrong time for Michael Vaughan to step down. Yes he is out of form, but he is a good captain and has loads of experience and is respected by all the players. I feel that his current form is not good! but it happens to all players. He is a good leader and should stay on... Mike Brearly (Sorry spelt wrong) was not a good player, but he managed to get the best out of his players. I don't think there is anyone else with enough experience to take on the role. If it is given to K.P. (Look what happened to Ian Botham - Great player,but are we asking too much??) Take on the role as captain as well?? Who else is there? Andy Strauss?? - he has had a dip in form. Robert Key - Again, England form is not that good. I think we have some good players coming through - Monty, Cook,and Broad, - All look like they will become really great players!! We need to get right!!! Mike Gilford Ps If David Gower lends me a fiver, I'll put on England winning the ashes next year!!!
Posted 23:41 3rd August 2008
Gareth Cook says...
Well Done to Vaughan, possibly the best captain we have had since Brierley - the Ashes win at the centre of his reign. I would be happy with KP taking over and those that say he"cost us" the series with suicide batting need to be quiet, if all the batsmen got 94 it would be a breeze - bowlers fear him because of his style and unpredictable approach, if he becomes stifled and begins to lack confidence in the typical English way he will be half the cricketer he is now. We need a captain to be confident, class and sometimes unpredictable - bring on KP
Posted 23:37 3rd August 2008
Sue Bowden says...
I am devastated that Michael Vaughan has stepped down as he is an excellent captain but just off his form runwise. It happens to every player - look at Andrew Strauss - and I really can't think of anyone who can fill his shoes. It can't be Freddie nor KP as they have proven (as did Ian Botham in his day) that being a top-of-the-range performer does not sit well with the captaincy. The players' minds are on other things with regard to captaining, rather than going all out to score runs or bowl well. I'm sorry too that Colly has also stepped down as he was proving to be a good captain and gave a good account of himself in his last test match innings. How anyone can suggest that Rob Key gets the job when he hasn't played in the test side for so long, beats me!
Posted 23:32 3rd August 2008
Paul Griffiths says...
It's unfortunate that Vaughan has to step down but we have been going backwards since 2005 Ashes, Our performances against Pakistan, New zealand and particularly last years Ashes were never going to be good enough for a team that could have been the best in the world. KP isn't the man for the job, look what happened to Flintoff in Australia. I can't actually see anyone in the side that could captain the team with the ruthlessness needed to beat the best teams.It also became obvious Vaughan didn't have the backing of the selectors, who should be made accountable as well and not heap everything on Vaughan. Moores' position should be looked at as his performance has contributed to things too. Thanks for the Ashes Michael but I now fear we are only going to fall even more behind the best tems. South Africa have been there for the taking but we just don't have it in us at the moment
Posted 23:19 3rd August 2008
Julian Toseland says...
well first let me say, what a very honourable way to finish a great england career, and I do say finish, I think its high time this clicky feeling was removed from that england dressing room once and for all, in the current england team, its a question if 6 of them warrant a proper full time place anymore.to much living in the past, yes we won the ashes in 2005, but bugger all since, stop trying the same team, its gone, live with it, move on. And for gods sake dont pick petterson for captain, he has neither the knowledge, skill nor temperament to be close to whats needed for an england captain, will be the biggest mistake for a long time. We have to go with Robert key, just look what he has done recently for his county at both captaining and run scoring, its a no brainer. If we want any chance of getting the ashes back, we must NOT appoint Petterson as captain, let him do what hes best at, batting, putting the burden of captaincy on his shoulders, just would not work.
Posted 23:19 3rd August 2008
Hohobohoko Poliuy says...
Robert Key?????? Are you having a laugh? Robert Key won't even make it into the test team let alone be given the captaincy. Whoever said rob key is an idiot. Oh I know geoff boycott for captaincy, thats the equivalent to the stupid Rob Key suggestion.
Posted 23:02 3rd August 2008
Rob Cooper says...
I would like to add to the army of people thanking Vaughan. He has been a superb captain, his tactics and field positions are a legend to the game. My total respect to you Michael, I sincerely hope you regain your form, you are a pleasure to watch. Don't forget everyone, he made a century only 4 matches ago against NZ. Wonderful player, masterful captain. Good luck to you. I do not believe Pieterson should be captain. I wish people would stop blaming him for losing us the series. He made an error of judgement, but so has every player at some point this series. He is a fantastic player, and I would rather lose that way than playing a boring game. Not a captain yet though. Robert Key is a good call, he is a superb player, totally under-rated. He gets my vote. Has been a true legend for Kent, and a superb captain for England A team. Lets get behind England, they will always provide us with heart-breaking moments, but are enthralling to watch. Cmon the boys!
Posted 22:52 3rd August 2008
Neal Maxwell says...
Definitely the right decision. KP should be Captain. He might not always have the discipline, but having the captaincy will force him to control his discipline and he is mentally one of the stronger players in the team and he has a winning mentality. Ironic that he is actually South African. :) Maybe England needs a foreigner to take the reigns and show them how it's done. :) England need a fresh start.
Posted 22:04 3rd August 2008
Shaji Geevarghese says...
Pietersen is our man . The captaincy will restrain him from taking undue risks . He will take England to a different level . Rob key has to come back into the team , even at the expense of Strauss . Key would have been the ideal choice for English captaincy . He has to be drafted into the team .If Pietersens game is affected because of the captaincy and if Key becomes a permanent member of the team , he could be the captain of the future .
Posted 21:56 3rd August 2008
Ashley Baker says...
Michael Vaughan made the correct decision. Although he has been a great leader for 5 years, his poor batting had let him down. At least Vaughan had the courage to admit his mistakes, unlike Moores and the selectors who just seem to hide behind him. Good Luck to Vaughan for the rest of the season. I would like to see either Mark Ramprakash or Rob Key as new captain. My eleven would be : Strauss, Trescothick, Ramprakash or Key, Pietersen, Bell, Flintoff, G Jones, Sidebottom, S Jones, Anderson, Panesar. Bring on the aussies!!!!!!!
Posted 21:33 3rd August 2008