Carry on Freddie - Vaughan

Michael Vaughan (right) has passed on his advice to Andrew Flintoff © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan is backing Andrew Flintoff to replace him as England's full-time captain if he leads a successful defence of the Ashes this winter.

The Yorkshire batsman is still regarded as England's captain despite not playing any international cricket since returning home early from the tour to India in March with a recurrence of problems in his left knee.

He has since had an operation which ruled him out of this summer's international commitments and, in his absence, Flintoff and Andrew Strauss led the side impressively as stand-in captains.

But Vaughan believes the challenge awaiting England under the Lancashire all-rounder's leadership in Australia is so great that if they do retain the Ashes his close friend will deserve the captaincy on a long-term basis.

“I still feel like the England captain because I've still got that tag by my name, but until I get myself fit and available for selection who knows what might happen?” conceded Vaughan.

“I'd be the first to admit that if we go over to Australia and retain the Ashes then Freddie should keep the job - he would have done a tremendous job and I'll concentrate on getting back into the team as a player.

“I'm just there in the background just in case they want me to come back as a leader.

Flintoff may replace Vaughan at the helm in the longer term

“It's part of the game I've enjoyed, being a captain, but it's not the be all and end all - I just want to get back playing cricket again.”

Vaughan is in the middle of an intense rehabilitation programme which he hopes will result in him flying out to Perth to join the Academy squad in early December.

He has dampened speculation he may be fit enough to make his comeback in the final two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney over Christmas and the new year, but has tried to pass on any tips to Flintoff so England can thrive in his absence.

The pair met for lunch prior to Geraint Jones' wedding last month to discuss the challenge ahead, but Vaughan stressed: “You can have the best plans in the world but a lot of it is instinctive on the pitch.

“He will rely on the senior guys but to a certain extent they are going to have to work it out for themselves.

“We had plans on the last tour to Australia but the ball wasn't behaving the way we thought it would and our bowlers bowled differently.

“You have to react accordingly and that's what they're going to have to do this winter.”

Vaughan believes a huge test for Flintoff in the coming months could be how he handles his own workload as he strives to become the first England captain since Mike Gatting in 1986-87 to win a series in Australia.

Flintoff has impressed during his time in charge of England

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Flintoff's desire to lead from the front earlier this summer led to a recurrence of his left ankle problems and a second operation which ruled him out for the second half of the summer.

But Vaughan said: “One of his biggest challenges is going to be how he handles his own bowling.

“As a captain I know he's a world-beater when he bowls. He offers you control, pace and he swings it both ways when he gets the ball reversing and you do want to keep bowling and bowling him.

“He's going to have really good back-up and the spinners are going to play a key role because if they can bowl from one end it allows you to rotate the bowlers at the other end.”

Vaughan added: “I can't see him bowling 30 or 35 overs in an innings any more because of his ankle problems.

“I know this is a huge series but we don't want him to think it's all or nothing for this series and never bowl again.

“We want him to bowl for a few years yet and he does bowl better in short, sharp spells. He is at his best when you can throw him the ball and ask him to give you four overs of his best.

“He knows that but he's also one of those characters who just wants to do everything.

“He will learn that he probably can't do everything all the time and he'll also know his ankle won't be able to withstand that amount of effort all the time.”