Vaughan has been reported as saying that the infamous 'Fredalo' incident after England's tournament opener in the Caribbean against New Zealand "did affect morale".

England went on to make a limp exit at the end of the Super Eight stage after a string of mediocre performances, but Cumbes is adamant it is wholly wrong to blame Flintoff, a Lancashire player, for the team's failure.

"I'm absolutely staggered," he told BBC Radio Five Live when asked for his response to Vaughan's reported comments.

"Rule one about any sport is not to slag your team-mates in public.

"It's despicable - Freddie has given England blood, he's played when unfit and forced himself through it - and he was a talisman in the (2005) Ashes series."

Cumbes believes Vaughan should remember Flintoff's role in his team's success over the years - which culminated in the Yorkshireman being awarded an OBE after the Ashes - before criticising him.

"Michael Vaughan wouldn't have been getting a gong at the end of all this (the Ashes) were it not for Andrew Flintoff," he added.

"Freddie will be bitterly hurt by this - he wants to do well for his team-mates and the last thing he'd want to do is let his team-mates down at any stage."

Vaughan was quoted in The Guardian as having said: "We arrived at the World Cup in a positive frame of mind but unfortunately incidents happened which affected the team.

"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.

SPORTING LIFE