Commonwealth Bank Series 2006-07

Vaughan returns as England captain

Cricinfo staff

January 7, 2007

Michael Vaughan is back to lead England in the one-day series © Getty Images

Vaughan, 32, has not played international cricket since England's tour of Pakistan in late 2005 because of a recurring knee injury. He underwent surgery and suffered an aborted comeback during the last English season.

"It's a great honour for me to be back," said Vaughan. "It's been a tough year - 2006 hasn't gone as we'd have planned - and it's a great challenge to make 2007 a lot, lot better. The team are sorry things haven't gone to plan, but we need to learn from the mistakes we've made over the last year or so and create a winning culture again."

Vaughan has stepped up his recovery by playing for the England Academy side in Perth and more recently MCC, scoring 27 in a tour match at Bowral, and bowling six overs. His first match back at the helm will be Tuesday's Twenty20 at Sydney.

"I inherit a very talented team, but I expect a few mental frailties from what has happened," Vaughan added. "There will be effects from a 5-0 thrashing, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. But this is a great opportunity to start afresh, develop a strategy for the one-day game and build up to a World Cup."

David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said: "It will be a fantastic boost for everyone to have Michael Vaughan back as captain for the one-day series. His leadership experience will be invaluable as we prepare for a tough series against an excellent Australian team.

"It is to Andrew Flintoff's credit that he was prepared to take on the responsibility of leading the Test side in Australia in Michael's absence. But Michael is the England captain and he will now begin the task of preparing the team for the challenges that lie ahead this winter."

Vaughan added that he had spoken to Flintoff about the situation yesterday. "I felt for him being captain," he said. "It's a great job but a tough job. He's lacked the experience in the team that I had, and those guys have been replaced by talented young players in pressure situations.

Following England's 10-wicket defeat at Sydney, Duncan Fletcher spoke about the concerns he has regarding Flintoff's workload. Vaughan has a mediocre ODI record, averaging 28.36 after 74 matches, but England's current plight left few options.

"He's done a remarkable job in the pressure he's been under," added Vaughan, "but I want him back to how he was a year ago, when he was a leader through his batting, bowling, and fielding. I expect Freddie to lead by example, because I want 11 captains on the field."

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Andrew Flintoff

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Commonwealth Bank Series

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