I've moved on - Vaughan

Michael Vaughan has settled into life after cricket with apparent ease, and is relishing his time away from the pitch

Michael Vaughan insists he has no regrets over calling time on his playing career.

The former England captain hung up his boots this summer at the age of 34 after failing to force his way back into the international set-up.

Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash remains one of the finest batsmen in the country despite turning 40 this year, while Middlesex spinner Shaun Udal will be 41 when next season gets under way.

Having masterminded England’s Ashes triumph over Australia in 2005, Vaughan was no more than a spectator as Andrew Strauss’ side reclaimed the famous urn this year.

For Vaughan, though, there was little doubt in his mind when he announced his retirement in June - and he has had precious few second thoughts since as he enjoys his life away from the game.

“I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to play for England again,” Vaughan told ecb.co.uk on the eve of the Test series in South Africa. “But my body and mind were telling me enough was enough.

“The fitness levels required in international cricket are so tough now, and my knee wasn’t good enough. If you asked me, do I want to play for England tomorrow, I’d say yes, but I wouldn’t want to put all the hard work in.

“No disrespect to county cricket, but once you’ve played at 10 years at the top it’s hard to play at a lower level.”

England's trip to South Africa in 1999-2000 saw Vaughan make his Test debut, while defeat to the Proteas on home soil last summer prompted him to stand down as captain.

For all the obvious resonance, however, Vaughan’s energies are now being channelled in other areas, most notably art.

He has just launched an exhibition entitled From crease to canvas, showcasing his innovative ‘artballing’ approach, which involves him hitting, throwing or bowling balls dipped in paint on to a blank canvas to “capture the drama, speed and excitement of cricket in one precious, dynamic visual moment”.

Vaughan, sporting his painting overalls, strikes a pose in the studio which will be familiar with those who saw him play

A selection of his work, which has been described in some quarters as a cross between Jackson Pollock and Damien Hirst, will be on display in galleries up and down the UK, including an exhibition at Harrods, until the end of December.

Dressed in white overalls and with bat in hand, Vaughan the artist bears a striking resemblance to Vaughan the cricketer.

But the man who scored 5,719 runs at an average of 41.44 in 82 Tests, and led England to a record 26 wins in his 51 matches as skipper, has tread the potentially perilous path away from the playing arena with apparent ease.

So much so that the term ex-cricketer hardly does Vaughan justice these days. He combines his work in the art studio with his role as business development manager for International Sports Management, and will commentate for BBC Test Match Special during England’s forthcoming Test series in South Africa.

Vaughan has been retired for fewer than six months - lest we forget he was leading his country as recently as last summer - and remains in regular contact with many of his former team-mates.

That, however, will not deter him from speaking his mind when he picks up the microphone.

“I won’t say what the players want to hear,” he insisted. “In that way, I don’t see my role as that much different to when I was captain.

“I was always pretty honest with them - if someone played badly I’d say so - but I would never criticise the players without saying how they could do things better.”

Although Vaughan spent a couple of days in the TMS box this season following his retirement - he enjoys how the radio “brings out your character” - he revealed a longer stint would have tested his impartiality.

The curtain comes down: Vaughan's final innings, in Yorkshire's Twenty20 Cup defeat by Leicestershire at Grace Road in June

He added: “If I had to do it much more this summer I would have struggled to say what I think; I would have been very conservative in my remarks.

“But now I’m a bit further away from it it’ll be easier. I’ve made some really good friends from cricket, but when you’re playing you’re just acquaintances. I won’t have a problem saying what I think in South Africa.”