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The world will always judge Michael Vaughan as one of the best captains to ever lead England.
Though records justify that claim, it was Vaughan's leadership style which made England a force to reckon with.
Vaughan's approach was cool, calculated and ruthless when dealing with the opposition. But what made Vaughan different was that he helped his players enjoy whatever they were doing.
The grumpiness of bygone eras was replaced by a sense of joy which proved refreshing. Stoic England cricketers became smiling assassins.
So where does Vaughan stand in the list of all-time England captains? In the post-war scenario, Vaughan must rank a close second to the great Mike Brearley.
Brearley was simply the best because he was a unique tactician and a smart man-manager. He also did not have the luxury of being a top class batsman like Vaughan to back up his captaincy skills.
Vaughan was a superb batsman in his own right and an average of 41.44 in 82 Tests more than justified his place in the side. Compared to that, Brearley just managed an average of 22.88 in 39 Tests.
So Brearley had to be exceptional in captaincy to just hold his place in the team and he did precisely that. His handling of Ian Botham and Bob Willis, which changed the course of the Ashes in 1981, is legendary.
Brearley also did not have the luxury of having a strong team like Vaughan, but made his men rise above themselves.
There were other captains too who may lay claim to be among the best. Yorkshireman Ray Illingworth proved to be inspirational when he brought back the Ashes in 1970-71.
His greatest strength, it is claimed, lay in creating an illusion that there were around 14 or 15 players on the field instead of the actual 11. This helped him to block the batsmen's favourite shots.
He was also a decent enough all-rounder to win a place in the side on those abilities alone. His off-spin was miserly and his batting tenacious.
Nasser Hussain took over at a critical time in English cricket and his tough brand of captaincy helped England climb up the ladder. He was always full of ideas and innovations and this reflected in the results.
But after a series of disappointing results, Hussain gave up the captaincy, citing tiredness in the role.
The pugnacious Mike Gatting also tasted success at the top but a certain fondness for barmaids short-circuited his stint.
David Gower also had his successes. His silky smooth batting was a delight for cricket lovers, though constant aberrations did not help his captaincy much.
Graham Gooch had a decent run at the top and he was backed by a strong team which made his task easier.
But Brearley and Vaughan must be there right at the top. If Brearley was brains, then Vaughan was vibrancy with brains thrown in.
