Vaughan reaches half-century

18 July 2008

Captain Michael Vaughan leads England out for the 50th time in Tests today

Michael Vaughan makes his 50th appearance as England Test captain today at his home ground at Headingley Carnegie – but who will join him in his milestone match will not be decided until shortly before the toss.

Vaughan, 33, becomes only the second Englishman to reach the half-century in charge following Michael Atherton.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be alongside him for the second match of the npower series against South Africa, after an 18-month injury lay-off.

But left-armer Ryan Sidebottom will be assessed this morning, after his back strain prevented him bowling on either practice day, and James Anderson's back was also reacting negatively to the three days in the field at Lord's in the drawn first Test.

"It's a huge honour," Vaughan said. "But you only get to that achievement by getting good teams, good management and winning games of cricket.

"You only win games with good players, and outstanding players, and I am just lucky to have had a few."

Vaughan was not overly optimistic about Sidebottom's chances of playing following rain-enforced indoor practice yesterday.

But speaking before Darren Pattinson, a Grimsby-born Australian roof tiler with just 11 first-class games experience, was called up as cover for Anderson, Vaughan hoped the toil on a benign Lord's surface last week would not have too detrimental an effect on the bowling unit's stamina.

"It is obviously going to have some effect but they do seem okay, they're a pretty fit bunch of guys," Vaughan said.

"Hopefully they will come through, they seem in good spirits, so they will just have to go out and bowl in a similar fashion."