Vaughan quits as England captain

Vaughan said he now wanted to take a break and come back and finish the season for county cricket side Yorkshire.

Michael Vaughan today resigned as England cricket captain, saying it was both the hardest and the easiest decision he has made.

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His decision follows yesterday's five-wicket defeat against South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston, which gave the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

"It's just the right time I feel to move forward with a new captain and new direction," a tearful Vaughan told a press conference.

"I've put my heart and soul into the job but my head is telling me to pack it in."

Vaughan said he now wanted to take a break and come back and finish the season for county cricket side Yorkshire.

"I just want to try and freshen up the mind and get back to playing as a batsmen. I do believe these could be the best years of my playing career.

"That's the one thing I want to get back doing."

The 33-year-old made his Test debut in South Africa in 1999, and captained his country for the first time at Lord's.