Cricket: Vaughan bats his way into test XI

By RICHARD BOOCK in Christchurch

Any lingering thoughts that England might prove a soft touch in the coming test series were dispelled at Hagley Park yesterday as the tourists flexed their muscles with an impressive batting effort against Canterbury.

Following on from an unconvincing performance at Queenstown, the England batsmen eased concerns during a productive second day in which 372 runs were scored for the loss of eight wickets.

The run-scoring bonanza would have come as something of a relief for not only coach Duncan Fletcher but also the tour selectors - who were facing a couple of curly decisions in the lead-up to next week's first test.

However, thanks mainly to a stylish Michael Vaughan century and useful contributions through the England top-order, the test combination is now looking a tad more predictable for the series opener at Jade Stadium.

Resuming from their overnight score of 28 without loss, England marched imperiously through to 400 for eight at stumps, with Vaughan's 22nd first-class century the unrivalled highlight.

The Yorkshire right-hander erased any suggestion that his test place might be on the line as he dominated the Canterbury attack, playing strongly all around the wicket and posting his century off 135 balls, including 15 fours.

Unlucky to miss the fifth and deciding ODI after dislocating his shoulder, the 27-year-old was untroubled by any of the opposition bowlers and was particularly harsh on recalled test paceman Chris Martin, who ended the day wicketless.

Having seen England off to a good start by putting on 71 for the first wicket with Mark Butcher, Vaughan continued on to end with 156, starring in a second-wicket stand of 207 with Nasser Hussain.

The performance means he is a virtual certainty for the test side and leaves the only question mark hovering over a decision between batsman Mark Ramprakash and all-rounder Chris White.

White scored a century in the second test against India and can be a handy player on slow-paced wickets, something he showed yesterday while making an unbeaten 53.

The most likely scenario is a batting order which comprises Butcher, Marcus Trescothick, Hussain, Graham Thorpe, Vaughan, Ramprakash or White, all-rounder Andy Flintoff, spinner Ashley Giles, pacemen Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard, and wicketkeeper James Foster.

If the English selectors decide they need more bowling options, then Ramprakash is undoubtedly the most vulnerable, especially after lasting just eight balls yesterday before offering a bat-pad chance off off-spinner Paul Wiseman.

The Surrey right-hander found himself in the middle after England lost Vaughan and Hussain (for 69) off consecutive overs at 278 and 279.