End Of An Era As Vaughan Edges Towards Retirement

As England embark on another Ashes summer, thoughts inevitably turn towards our lads' success on home soil four years ago and some of the iconic images that famous series threw up. Many of them involve England’s inspirational skipper Michael Vaughan, his doubled fisted celebration after the last gasp Edgbaston victory, his battling century at Old Trafford and, of course, the sight of the Yorkshireman lifting the famous little urn aloft at the Oval.

But time appears to have caught up with Vaughan and when his fading hopes of earning a recall to the test side were extinguished a few weeks ago, so it appears was his desire to carry on playing professional cricket.

Vaughan is on the brink of announcing his retirement from the game and may have already done so by the time you read this. In doing so Vaughan would be bringing the curtain down on a wonderful career with both county and country and one that will be remembered fondly by England cricket fans.

Making his debut in 1999 Vaughan quickly established himself as a top order batsman and rose to the top of the batting rankings in 2002/03. That summer he took over the captaincy from Nasser Hussian and he led his side on a journey that would take in six successive test series victories, culminating in that famous Ashes win in 2005.

Sadly, like many of the side, that September day at the Oval proved to be the high point. Injuries began to catch up with him and he missed the 2006/07 Ashes re-match with a chronic knee complaint. He returned for the 2007 World Cup but resigned from the one-day captaincy after England’s early exit. A year later after a poor start to the 2008 summer Vaughan called time on the test captaincy too at an emotional press conference. There he pledged to score runs for county and country now he was free from the shackles that leadership places on you. But that form didn’t come and his failure to earn a recall since has perhaps forced his hand. At 34 there is no shame in calling it a day and perhaps it is a good idea to go out at the top anyway.

So thanks Vaughany for the memories and here’s hoping the class of 2009 can emulate your achievements of four years ago and bring the Ashes home. Make sure you keep up to date with the First Test odds prior to any Lords Test betting! If you feel like getting in the betting mood, check out Betfair's new fanvfan site!