Vaughan blames Flintoff

England captain Michael Vaughan has blamed Andrew Flintoff's much-publicised antics in the Caribbean during the World Cup for spoiling the atmosphere within the squad and hampering the team's chances of winning the tournament.

The Lancashire all-rounder was stripped of the vice-captaincy after a late-night drinking session resulted in an incident with a pedalo after England had lost their opening match against New Zealand.

Vaughan said the impact of that - and the resulting sanctions on other members of the party who were caught drinking in a nightclub in the early hours - had affected the players.

"We arrived at the World Cup in a positive frame of mind but unfortunately incidents happened which affected the team," he told The Guardian.

"You have to be honest: the 'Fredalo' incident did affect the team. It did affect morale.

"Those incidents are bound to affect team spirit. Suddenly you've got players who have no freedom left. I like to see players enjoy themselves but no one would dare go out after that incident - and you can't create any spirit then.

"That incident changed the whole atmosphere in the camp. We went into the New Zealand game with a really good attitude but we didn't play well and after 'Fredalo' we just started taking it all too seriously.

"That might sound silly but everyone was too tense and desperate. There was no escape - and even on the field you have to be pretty free, especially in one-day cricket."

Vaughan said he had no option but to support the decision to strip Flintoff, who had skippered the side during a disastrous 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia just a few months before, of the vice-captaincy.

"I was obviously asked. That was the decision. It was a tough decision but after what went on it was bound to happen," added the England captain.