Record-breaker vaughan hails team

Michael Vaughan was proud to become the most successful England Test captain but was quick to praise his team for securing the West Indies series.

Vaughan passed Peter May's 20 wins in his 35th Test as captain as England beat the tourists by 60 runs in the third Test at Old Trafford.

"It's great to pass so many legends of the game in victories but it's special because we've won the series," he said.

"We got asked a lot of questions. They pushed us every single day."

Vaughan also praised Shivnarine Chanderpaul after the West Indies batsman gave his side hope of an incredible victory.

The visitors needed a Test record 455 to win and got to 394 before being dismissed in their second innings.

LEADING ENGLAND CAPTAINS Michael Vaughan (2003-): 21 wins in 35 Tests (60% won) Peter May (1955-61): 20 in 41 (48.78%) Mike Brearley (1977-81): 18 in 31 (58.06%) Nasser Hussain (1999-2003): 17 in 45 (37.77%) Michael Atherton (1993-98 & 2001): 13 in 54 (24.07%)

Chanderpaul, who missed the previous Test because of a knee injury, defied the England bowlers for almost seven hours on a difficult pitch and ended the match unbeaten on 116 after a spirited display.

"Chanderpaul's innings was probably the best I've seen in Test cricket in terms of conditions in which he had to bat."

Vaughan believes the team will benefit from this hard-fought victory far more than from Headingley, when they triumphed by an innings and 283 runs with more than a day to spare.

"To grow as a team you have to come through tough days and sessions," he said.

"They were digging in and batting really well and we knew it was going to be really tough but the team have come through it very well.

"It's great to get a 2-0 lead in the series and we go to Durham trying to improve on a few areas but looking to make it 3-0."

It's been a strange week, I was embarrassed on Thursday, I'm sorry for those comments and I apologise for that Michael Vaughan

The captain was also quick to highlight the contribution of Steve Harmison, who overcame some more anxious moments to claim four wickets in the second innings and pass the milestone of 200 Test victims.

"For Steve to bowl the way he did in the second innings shows a hell of a lot of character, he had a think about things and bowled brilliantly.

"I'm delighted for him and he'll be looking forward to getting back on his home turf [in the final Test] on Friday and continuing that kind of form."

Vaughan was also pleased to appease the Lancashire members, after incurring their wrath with some inverted criticism of Andrew Flintoff's influence at the World Cup.

"It's been a strange week, I was embarrassed on Thursday, I'm sorry for those comments and I apologise for that.

"But it's also been a great week, [groundsman] Pete Marron has once again produced a tremendous cricket wicket for everyone, if you played well you got runs and if you bowled well you got wickets so he deserves a lot of credit."