Vaughan's long goodbye

20 June 2007

Michael Vaughan claims his decision to stand down is best for the team as they plan ahead

Michael Vaughan admitted he first thought about resigning as England's one-day captain in the aftermath of their disappointing World Cup campaign.

Vaughan stepped down on Monday, the day before England wrapped up a 3-0 npower Test series win over West Indies courtesy of a three-wicket victory in the final Test at the Riverside.

He concedes he had been considering the matter for weeks and, after discussing it with chairman of selectors David Graveney, coach Peter Moores and selector Geoff Miller, he feels his decision is in the team's best interests.

"I made the decision in my heart in the West Indies, but I didn't want to just come out and say that because I thought there'd been enough talk and Duncan [Fletcher, the coach] had resigned as well," explained Vaughan, who has not scored a century in 86 one-day international appearances for England.

"I came home and talked to a lot of people and not one of them thought I should stand down, so I thought I should carry on.

“But two weeks passed by and I remember sitting at home with my wife and I just turned around and said, 'It's not the right time'.

"But if I'd have continued in that role there would have been absolutely no chance that I would have made the World Cup [in 2011].

"It's the right time now to get a new captain in charge, give him however many games he requires to be a good one-day captain.

"If you're going to win the World Cup I think you need to give your captain 60 or 70 games’ experience because big decisions will matter and clever decisions may be the difference between winning and losing."

Vaughan, who took over as one-day captain in 2003, has stated previously a split-captaincy system may not work, but he is determined to try to make it succeed.

Vaughan admits his record as a one-day player in England colours is "not that good"

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"I know I said split captaincy probably wouldn't work but if it's going to work it's going to work with someone like me because I'm pretty chilled,” he added.

“I do it in a different manner to a lot of other people and I'm very committed to continuing as the Test captain as long as the team want me.

"I don't have any worries about the decision I've made because I believe it's the right thing for the English game and for English cricket to move forward.

"I do believe there is a chance we can get our one-day cricket back but we needed a fresh approach and a fresh captain with some new ideas and I think it's the right time for that to happen."

England's squad and captain for the two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs against West Indies is due to be announced on Friday, but Vaughan does not expect to be included despite making himself available.

He said: "I certainly don't expect to be picked on Friday because I think a new captain would find it very difficult captaining me a week after I've just captained him in a Test.

"I think he deserves a little bit of time getting his authority over to the team and working his method of captaincy out and if I was there I think it might be quite difficult for him.

"I think the best thing for the team is for me not to play for a while and, if my body's fine and if I'm playing well, then who's to say I won't come back into the one-day series.

“But I know I have to go away and play very, very well because my one-day record is not that good."