Vaughan fades after brilliant effort

Michael Vaughan was undoubtedly one of the finest captains England had. This title goes to him not because he wrote his name in the history of English cricket on September 12, 2005 by becoming the first captain to win an Ashes series since Mike Gatting in 1986-87, but due to his overall personality.

It has always been a delight talking to him. He carried the aura of being the England captain with elegance. Vaughan knew to maintain his cool not only on the field but off it too. He had the ability to hide his emotions on his face though he was unable to do just that when he finally called it a day.

No one who met him in March in Abu Dhabi would have believed that his career would end in four months. But he must have realised that a cricketer's career and form is as unpredictable as the game.

On March 17, at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi he hit a brilliant 115 off 113 balls with 12 fours and a six for Yorkshire against Surrey in the Pro Arch Trophy. So brilliant was the knock that everyone who witnessed it considered it a comeback for the Ashes series. His 115 in Yorkshire's total of 295 for 8 helped his team restrict Surrey to 262 for 9 and win the match by 33 runs.

After this knock Vaughan had said: "To remain the captain of England for five and half years was tough. It would mean a great deal to play in the Ashes." And Vaughan carried his hope. Even in his last knock for Yorkshire against Worcestershire in June he hit a 43, but by then his confidence had eroded him.

In his retirement speech, he admitted: "I'd get a 30 or 40 and then just get out. I don't know what it is that makes that happen."

It was sad to hear him say that he'd finally made up his mind to retire after his three year old son's delivery that hit a weed, knocked off his stump while playing with him in the garden.

Every cricketer realises the moment he must call it a day, but very often they refuse to admit it. That results in a crash from the top with a thud. Vaughan has thoughtfully called it a day with the same elegance he had led England.