Cricket: 'misquoted' Vaughan is Contradicted By Evidence

England's captain Michael Vaughan yesterday reignited the row over Andrew Flintoff's drunken pedalo escapade by denying that he had identified it as a prime factor in England's World Cup flop.

On a day of determined backtracking Vaughan sought to repair a strained relationship with Flintoff by claiming that he had been "totally misquoted" in the interview by the Guardian's Donald McRae. The Guardian responded by asserting the accuracy of the report and putting audio excerpts of the interview tape on its website. Listen to the interview here.

Vaughan suggested that "one word changed the whole complexion of the article - a word that I didn't say." Asked what that word was, he said: "I think it's Fredalo. I never used that word, no - I was certainly not pinpointing anyone. Me and Freddie are good mates and unfortunately it has been blown out of all proportion."

In the tapes, however, Vaughan is heard using the term "Fredalo" in connection with England's World Cup failure on more than one occasion.

Vaughan and Flintoff met for lunch in Manchester yesterday, where Vaughan was expected to assure him that he had not blamed him for World Cup defeat. "I hope everyone realises that it has been blown up, [and that we] are great mates," he said. "I am looking forward to getting me and Freddie back in the team."

Flintoff was said to be shaken by Vaughan's assessment that his behaviour had a negative effect on morale.

The Guardian's sports editor, Ben Clissitt, said: "We were rather puzzled by Michael's comments. It is clear that Michael uses the word "Fredalo" on more than one occasion. Equally his contention that the interview did not contain any self-critical comments is misplaced. That passage appeared both on the front page of our sports section and in the interview inside.

"I understand that Michael has been under a bit of pressure for his words. However, the inelegance of his reversal at lunchtime was matched only by its inaccuracy."