County chairman fumes over Vaughan's criticism

Michael Vaughan's criticism of county cricket is still drawing reaction, the latest coming from the Worcestershire chairman John Elliott who said the England captain was "totally out of order".

Vaughan blamed the county game for England's inability to take advantage of several chances to push for victory in the fourth Test against South Africa at Headingley, a failing which allowed the visitors to take a 2-1 series lead.

"English players have long had a laid-back attitude where we play so much county cricket that it can get boring," Vaughan said. "Maybe it's mental and maybe to do with attitudes and the way we are brought up in our game. You need guys who turn up mentally tough with a great attitude and I'm not too sure our system is allowing that at the minute."

Elliott said: "We have done everything for them. We have given them central contracts, brought in two divisions in the County Championship and National League, made one-day cricket 45 overs. They have got all the help in the world with physios, psychoanalysts, dieticians and managers.

"They've got everything and they still can't get out there and play the game. I think they should look internally rather than complain about English county cricket.

"County cricket is the hand that fed Michael Vaughan."