The Ashes
Squad profiles
- Michael Vaughan
- Date of birth: 29.10.74
- County: Yorkshire
- Tests: 64
- Role: Middle-order Batsman
- Bat: Right-hand
- Bowl: Right-arm off break
- Bat Average: 42.94
- Bowl Average: 89.50
Captain fantastic, Michael Vaughan defied all the odds to lead England to their first Ashes victory against the auld enemy since Mike Gatting's men back in 1987.
Although averaging only 32.60 with the bat, Vaughan was able to gel the team together unlike any England skipper for some time, setting intelligent fields and instilling a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment in his team's cricket.
Australian were well aware of Vaughan's prowess with the bat before the tour began as the Yorkeshireman picked up the Man of the Series award in Australia for the 2000/01 campaign. A fluid 166 in the first innings at Old Trafford confirms the class with the bat is still there but the Aussies are now they are also aware of his astute captaincy skills.
The elegant right-hander cemented his arrival on the Test scene during the last Ashes series in 2002-03, racking up three huge centuries on the way to 633 runs.
His cool temperament earmarked Vaughan as the obvious successor to Nasser Hussain and he assumed the ODI captaincy following a torrid 2003 World Cup.
Instant success helped convince Hussain to relinquish the role at Test level and the Yorkshire batsman has enjoyed huge success in the two years since.
Taking over after a crushing Lord's defeat by South Africa, Vaughan salvaged that series before respectable tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Then followed an astonishing run of 11 wins and two draws in 13 2004 Test matches, a run that included whitewashes of New Zealand and West Indies on home turf.
A first series win in South Africa for 40 years cemented Vaughan's reputation as an outstanding captain with innovative yet aggressive tactics and superb man-management the hallmarks of his leadership.
Having made most of his runs as an opener, he has dropped down to number four to ease the pressure of leadership and make room for the prodigious talent of Andrew Strauss.