The Five Minute Interview: Michael Vaughan, cricketer

"People are quick to make assumptions about me but nobody has any idea..."

Michael Vaughn OBE is a former England cricket captain currently playing for Yorkshire. He was ranked the world's number one batsman during the 2002/2003 season and led the England side to victory over Australia during the legendary Ashes series of 2005. Michael is currently working with television presenter Angela Rippon and insurance firm Norwich Union on a competition to find Britain's quirkiest memorabilia collections. For more information visit:
www.happysback.com
.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be…

At home with my family in Derbyshire. I've got two kids - a three-year-old and a four-year-old.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Absolutely" - I say that a lot. There's no particular reason for it but it's just entered my speech quite a lot lately.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Sport in schools. I'd love to see kids playing as much sport in state schools as they do at private schools but I think it often gets overlooked. I was inspired to become a cricketer while at school but even I could have improved by playing more sport at that level. Also there are lots of jobs in sport these days. It's a real world now with real jobs - that's something people forget.

A common misperception of me is...

I think everyone in the public eye is misperceived to an extent and it's due to the media really. You can't really understand somebody after watching them on television for half an hour. It's difficult to judge what a person is really like in that situation. People are quick to make assumptions about me but nobody really has any idea.

The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was...

I've never been surprised by anything. Becoming a dad was the closest thing to that but you have nine months of knowing it's going to happen first so surprise isn't the right word. I've certainly not been surprised by anything that has happened in my life lately.

I am not a politician but...

I hate politics. It just doesn't interest me at all and I find it very boring. That said, I wouldn't mind lowering taxes. I don't really feel overtaxed and I'm aware of the need for general taxation but we'd all like to pay a little less wouldn't we?

I'm good at...

Seeing things. I've got great vision which really helps with cricket. I'm also a bit of an inventor. I often sit at home by myself inventing bits and pieces or coming up with business plans. I've got a new business in the pipeline as we speak actually. I'm sure you'll hear all about it soon.

But I'm very bad at...

Singing - well music in general really. I'm an awful singer but it doesn't stop me belting them out from time to time. I'd love to play guitar properly too but as soon as I try to learn anything I get so confused. I can't read music and will probably never be able to.

The ideal night out is...

Dinner with a few close friends then on to a nice wine bar or something. We'll often head off to a karaoke place later in the evening. Like I say my singing ability rarely stops me performing.

In moments of weakness I...

Talk to people. There's not one particular person - I'll just chat to anyone who'll listen. I've not had any moments of weakness lately though so I've not needed to confide in anyone for quite a while.

You know me as a cricketer but in truer life I'd have been...

A businessman. I'm always coming up with great ideas that I know would do really well. I'd probably still have dealings with cricket in the business though - I couldn't imagine not being involved in the sport at some level.

The best age to be is...

Any age over 18. When you turn 18 you finally have freedom in your life. No one can stop you doing what you want to do. Your future is in your own hands.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is…

Look in the mirror. There's only one person who knows the truth about anything and that's you. No one else can understand what's going on in your life better than you can.