Hoggard defends Vaughan

Matthew Hoggard has played down newspaper pictures of England captain Michael Vaughan in an apparently drunken state.

A bleary-eyed Vaughan has been pictured looking the worse for wear after celebrating England's 60-run win over the West Indies in the third Test in Manchester.

The result at Old Trafford saw the 32-year-old overtake Peter Mays to become England's most successful skipper ever with 21 Test victories.

Hoggard, who has been deemed fit for selection for the fourth Test against the Windies which begins in Durham on Friday, said: "I haven't seen them but I'm sure, being the most successful England captain in history, he's allowed to have a drink or two.

"Congratulations go to him. Everyone seems to rally round him when he is on the pitch."

Vaughan's newspaper criticism of Andrew Flintoff's drunken antics in the Caribbean following England's defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their World Cup opener had overshadowed the build-up to the third Test.

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