posted Jun 30, 2009

At his best, as he often was for England, a wonderful player to watch, with the heart to match.

after Hussain changed the England team around, Vaughan continued and improved the side, and finally did something so many Eng capt dreamt of doing, finally beaten the Aussies.

A great Capt, a very good player, and a decent bloke...

congrats MV, enjoy your retirement you have served your country so well.

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posted Jun 30, 2009

I was lucky enough to see him at his best in Australia 2002/3. Fair to say he was awesome and his form over that series and the summer before made him England's best batsman for years.

An innovative captain who managed to take the good things from Nasser and add a touch of humour and empathy. Was just a shame to see his decline over the last couple of years.

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posted Jun 30, 2009

Thanks for the great memories, MV. It's never easy to score a Test hundred, but you leave with 18 under your belt, an outstanding achievement in any era!

Now, you can teach little Archie the ropes so he, too, may one day captain England to repeated success, both on and off the field, with pride, class and dignity! .

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posted Jun 30, 2009

Michael Vaughn has retired??
Graeme Smith, what have you done?

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posted Jun 30, 2009

Al the best to one of England's finest captains

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posted Jun 30, 2009

Rather than dwell on Michael Vaughan's loss of form and speculate about the reason ( or reasons ) why, I would prefer to remember him for his outstanding batting in 2002/2003, when he scored an astonishing seven humdreds in twelve Tests against Sri Lanka, India and Australia, and for leading England to Ashes glory in 2005.

There has been a lot of debate on this forum about whether Vaughan was a great batsman or merely a good one. He was certainly great in 2002 and early 2003 when he scored those seven Test hundreds against Sri Lanka, India and Australia, and finished 2002 the number one ranked batsman in the world. I remember Shane Warne saying at the time, that along with Lara and Tendulkar, he was one of the three best batsmen he had ever bowled to. Who knows if he would have maintained that standard if he hadn't become England captain shortly afterwards. But on the other hand, had he not become captain would England have been as successful as they were for a time, culminating in Ashes glory in 2005?

My personal opinion is that he was both a great batsman and a great captain - just not at the same time. Had he not become captain, and had it not been for that recurring knee injury, I believe he would still have another couple of years of Test cricket left in him and I believe he would have retired with a Test average of 50 instead of the 41 he has retired with. But had he not become captain I don't believe England would have been as successful as they were for a time, culminating in the Ashes victory of 2005.

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posted Jun 30, 2009

Vaughan is a true legend of English cricket. And we were SO close under him to achieving greatness but for injuries and illness to key players.
Now, what does that mean? They gave it all they had physically & mentally in the 05 Ashes and broke down afterwards? They just couldnt hack the demands of modern day test cricket? They were damn unlucky? Probably all three.
All the same, summer 05 will go down in history as one of the greatest epochs of English cricket and I doubt we'll ever see the same excitement whilst Sky have cricket in their hands.
Thank you for great times Vaughan, farewell and all the best.

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posted Jul 1, 2009

I personally think he was not great, and that the majority of enhland supporters are wrong, and should not be saluting any ricketer, forget michael vaughan

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posted Jul 1, 2009

seems to me his international carear has mirrored Harmisons. Climbed to No 1 in world then back down again. Difference is Harmison went back to County cricket and gave all for his county but is constantly pillioried for not trying whilst Vaughan is hailed a legend for winning a close ashes series then ... not a lot more . Who'd be a bowler in this batsmen's game !

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posted Jul 1, 2009

Harmison isn't suffering from a serious knee injury.

Vaughan is.

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