Michael Vaughan launched a scathing attack on English cricket just moments after his side were crushed by South Africa on Monday, arguing its players were weighed down by fear and lacked a ruthless streak.

The England captain, whose side lost by 191 runs at Headingley despite appearing to hold the upper hand on several occasions, said: "Why did we lack ruthlessness? It's a good question. I think over the last few years a lot of England teams have been very similar.

"When you get on top of opposition as good as South Africa you have to really make those situations count. We didn't do that here and we have not done it in the past very well.

"Maybe it's mental, maybe it's to do with attitude, the way we are brought up in our game.

"It's happened a hell of a lot in the past, this wasn't the first time and it's something we have to look at.

"Maybe it's the fear factor. Maybe it stems from the amount of cricket we play. English players have had this laid-back attitude.

"We play so much county cricket that it can get boring, a treadmill. We don't get enough time in the nets to work on our skills.

'NOT PRODUCING'

"County cricket is not producing mentally tough players. It needs to be looked at."

Agreeing with a recent newspaper article by former England captain Michael Atherton, Vaughan added: "Fear is a key element of English play. Maybe he is pretty spot on."

England reduced South Africa to 21 for four on the opening morning and 142 for seven later in the day but could not kill off the first innings as the last three wickets added 200 runs.

The home team then failed to take a first-innings lead after reaching 169 for one and their bowlers also missed out in the second innings as South Africa added 205 for their last five wickets.

"From 142 for seven, you shouldn't allow them to get 365," Vaughan added.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith suggested earlier in the tour that he sensed a lack of intensity in the England team but he would not be drawn on Monday.

"I don't know how much England wanted it, but our boys definitely did, they showed immense hunger to do well... A lot of guys stepped up to the plate in this game."

South Africa head for the fifth and final Test at The Oval with a 2-1 lead.