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While England fans debate the Flintoff/Strauss captaincy issue ahead of next Tuesday’s Ashes squad announcement, the man they are vying to replace believes either will do a good job.

A persistent knee injury ended Michael Vaughan’s hopes of defending the famous urn and recapturing his sensational form from the 2002/3 series down under, when he amassed 633 runs at an average of 63.30. He refuses to be drawn on which Andrew he thinks should lead England, but he does have plenty of advice to offer his temporary successor.

“For me a lot of the captaincy is done in and around the dressing room, how you relay your messages and what mental attitude you send your team out with because they will follow the captain’s lead,” Vaughan told.

“If you set them with a great positive mental attitude then you’ve got a chance. I don’t know how the players have reacted in the dressing room, but judging by the success they (Flintoff and Strauss) have had, they are both decent at what they do,” he added.

Strauss, the public school-educated Durham University graduate nicknamed Lord Brocket by Matthew Hoggard, is perfect son-in-law material - intelligent, contemplative yet very popular among his peers. Flintoff is the brash, working-class hero with the charisma to match his inspirational, whole-hearted style.

But despite their personality polarities, both men have shown a flair for leadership. Flintoff’s finest hour in charge was England’s series-levelling win over India in Mumbai in March, a victory made the more memorable as the tourists were without five key players from the 2005 Ashes series. Meanwhile, Strauss’ faith in Monty Panesar saw the left-armer spinning England to a comprehensive ñ albeit controversial - 3-0 series victory over Pakistan this summer.

“Both players are great characters and both have the personality to be good captains for the future,” said Vaughan. “For me, they would not have been given the captaincy if they were not good enough for the job. I don’t think it matters what you do, it’s more the personality and person you are. Be yourself and do it your way,” he added.

Flintoff and Strauss have already shown they can inspire and motivate, two key responsibilities for every captain. “When you have the respect of your team, they know when to and when not to speak,” said Vaughan. “They have got to get used to the way you react in different situations. All this happens once the team know your traits and your personality,” he added.

Source:The News