The recently resigned Michael Vaughan is England's greatest ever Test captain. Official. Undisputed. Fact.

It says so in the record books - his overall tally of 26 victories in 51 Tests comfortably the highest return by an English leader and a statistic with the potential to stand as long as predecessor Peter May's 46-year spell as number one.

But numbers alone are not always an accurate gauge of worth.

Vaughan inherited the role in 2003 with precious little captaincy experience, usurping Marcus Trescothick for the post after Nasser Hussain quit, and quickly showed himself to be a fine leader of men.

On Sunday his tenure came full circle, having taken charge amid the chaos of the second Test against South Africa five years ago, he relinquished the position with a similar uncertainty looming over the direction of this current England team.

There is no question that Vaughan brought a solidity and an intelligence to the side and forged a fine working relationship with former coach Duncan Fletcher.

He relaxed his colleagues, promoted expression of talent, and displayed a carefree yet authoritative demeanour on the field.

Indeed, his astute tactical analysis was crucial in delivering the Ashes success of 2005.

His value could perhaps best be measured by the implosion of England in Australia during the winter of 2006-07 when his career-threatening knee injury kept him sidelined.

His absence was seized upon as an advantage by the Australians and Andrew Flintoff, already with duel responsibility, was blitzed trying to juggle too many balls.

England missed Vaughan's steadying influence, his imaginative field placings and his intuitive touch when managing his bowling resources during that 5-0 whitewash.

As is cricket's way, absence only improves reputations and such has been Vaughan's influence on England over the past five years that Fletcher recently said: "I can't see anyone else doing the job.

"He is a very, very good captain. What sums him up is quite simple for me. Look at his performances against Australia [Vaughan averages nearly 48, with four hundreds].

"I don't see how people can question him. He loves playing them, even though it's the toughest job in international cricket. But it's what he wants. He wants to take those guys on."

Since returning from an 18-month absence in 2007, Vaughan's target had been to lead England into next year's Ashes, and so confident was he about the recovery of his troublesome right knee he even talked about playing as a foot soldier on the next tour down under.

Trouble is he has now had to admit that in his current state of form neither target is tenable.

His own lack of productivity with the bat has been a major contributing factor to his captaincy record losing some of its sheen in the past 12 months.

During his pomp, England went unbeaten in 2004, winning 11 matches and drawing two, including a national record of eight consecutive victories.

They beat the West Indies away for the first time since 1968, won all seven home Tests against New Zealand and West Indies, before beating South Africa away for the first time since 1965.

Impressive stuff, all of which laid the foundations for the famous Ashes series triumph.

But the six series since his comeback have been telling - the three against high-ranked opponents India, Sri Lanka and South Africa have all been lost, while the three victories have come against a depleted New Zealand (twice) and West Indies.

Vaughan's average during that 18-match stretch is just 36.25 and he has become susceptible to full deliveries from pace bowlers.

He has looked a shadow of the man who terrorised attacks - he fought the Australians almost single-handed in 2002-03 - and threatened to rewrite English batting records.

And when times are fraught - his fall-out with the selectors over the selection of unknown bowler Darren Pattinson last month being an obvious example - being able to compartmentalise the duality of the job becomes taxing.

But arguably his best skill as captain remains. That of instinct.

Gut feelings have served both him and England well, and this one at least allows him to adjust his personal statistics in time, having left the kind of numbers as captain which will be hard to beat.

Click here to see Michael Vaughan's press conference.