Michael Vaughan turns 45: His top 3 Test series wins as captain

Beating Australia is the pinnacle for any England cricket captain. Michael Vaughan was one of the most successful captains of the England team. Vaughan's record of 26 wins in 51 Tests as captain puts him in elite company in terms of longevity and success. His winning percentage was an impeccable 50.98%. Only Michael Atherton, with 54 Tests in charge, has captained England more times than Vaughan. As Vaughan celebrates his 45th birthday on Tuesday, let us have a look at England's top 3 Test series win under his captaincy.

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2003-2004 West Indies vs England - Wisden Trophy:

England won the four-match Test series 3-0 where they thumped West Indies in the first three matches comprehensively to take an unassailable lead in the series in the Caribbean. The Windies managed to draw the last Test courtesy Brian Lara's record 400*. England won the first Test by 10 wickets and followed it up with a clinical victory by 7 wickets in the second test. In the third test, they won by 8 wickets. England fast bowler Steve Harmison was named the 'Player of the Series'.

2004 England vs West Indies - Wisden Trophy:

England had beaten West Indies in their own backyard not long ago and the Windies had a daunting task of beating England, who were high on confidence. But England ran all over West Indies as they whitewashed West Indies 4-0 to retain the Wisden Trophy at home. In the first test at Lord's, England secured a whopping 210-run victory and followed it up with an even bigger win by 256 runs. England won the next two Tests comfortably by 7 & 10 wickets respectively to clean sweep the Windies. Andrew Flintoff was adjudged the 'Player of the Series'.

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2005 England v Australia - The Ashes:

The Ashes 2005 perhaps remains the highlight of Vaughan's captaincy career as England managed to win Ashes for the first time since 1986/87. In the opening Test at Lord's, Australia beat England ruthlessly with a margin of 239 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second Test in Birmingham was a nail-biter as England managed to win by a meagre margin of 2 runs and levelled the series. The third Test match at Old Trafford ended in a draw. England won the fourth Test by 3 wickets in Nottingham and took a 2-1 lead in the series. Australia could not manage to win the final Test as it was drawn and England won the Ashes after nearly 19 years. Vaughan's captaincy was brilliant in the series, which ensured England won the Ashes.

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