Vaughan's back where he belongs

Vaughan, 32, celebrated his comeback from an 18-month exile through injury with a 16th hundred in his 65th appearance, scoring the majority of his runs alongside fellow centurion Kevin Pietersen as the home team closed on 366 for five.

In an emphatic response to questions over his readiness to return to the side with no first-class outing after fracturing a finger in his right hand, he became the first Yorkshire batsman to score a Test hundred for England on his home ground since Geoff Boycott 30 years ago.

On the eve of the contest he laughed off suggestions he was a special case by asking if he was to be called Jose, in reference to Jose Mourinho's 'special one' nickname.

Vaughan reached three figures 20 minutes after tea on the opening day of the second npower contest with the streakiest of his 11 boundaries, an edge which flew through a gaping hole in the slips, off Jerome Taylor.

His own gleeful punches into the air to toast his feat were mirrored by those of his third-wicket partner Kevin Pietersen, who then swept him off his feet in a crushing bear hug.

''I knew I was under pressure and that's why I was really pleased. It was a big challenge to go out and play as well as I did,'' he said.

''I was very nervous this morning wondering if I could still play at this level.

''It has been a long way. It was very special to go out and score some runs.

''I always had a real fight to get back. I worked very hard and maybe this was just meant to be.''

Typically, the skipper was just as thrilled with England's first-day dominance, and backed his side to consolidate when the tourists are asked to bat.

''I am delighted, and more importantly with the position we are in,'' he added.

''There are a few things happening if you get the ball in the right place.'

Vaughan responded to the pressure he conceded he was under coming into this contest, his first anywhere since walking off the field in Lahore in December 2005 and first in this country since the Ashes celebrations at the Oval, with a mixture of graft and touch.

After a sticky start - he spent 27 deliveries on three - the Yorkshire batsman flourished, sharing a 163-run stand with Pietersen spanning 34 overs.

Since last taking strike in a Test, Vaughan has undergone two lots of surgery on a career-threatening knee injury and was dogged by hamstring trouble on his one-day international return this year.

A scheduled Lord's comeback was then scrapped when a delivery from Hampshire's Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark rapped the gloves at the Rose Bowl.

Today he was at crease a little over an hour after winning the toss in the second match of the npower series after Andrew Strauss fell cheaply once again, this time slashing a wide ball from Powell behind to extend his trot to just one half-century in 13 Test innings.

Vaughan got off the mark from his fourth ball, when he clipped Daren Powell behind square on the leg side, and squeezed a two behind point shortly afterwards.

The heavy cloud cover prevalent prior to the start of play had dissipated by the time Strauss popped the ball inches shy of short-leg from the first delivery of the day, sent down by Powell.

Alastair Cook, one of five English centurions in the drawn Test at Lord's last week, tucked the ball into gaps to good effect and had compiled 42 when he was adjudged leg-before, prodding forward to off-spinner Chris Gayle, from the final delivery before lunch.

It was after the interval when Vaughan began to unfurl strokes reminiscent of his majestic best as pulls and cover drives flew to the ropes.

A misfield at mid-off from opposite number Ramnaresh Sarwan allowed him to 50 and he cruised to three figures before picking out deep square-leg from a Taylor bouncer.

Pietersen, whose own half-century included six fours, mainly handsome drives down the ground, had moved to 74 as Vaughan left to a raucous send-off. It was only half-a-dozen overs later that he brought up his eighth hundred and fastest of his career as he leg-glanced his 104th delivery, from Powell, for four.

He rode his luck, however, having been stumped off a Gayle no-ball on 20 with the score 142 for two.

Ill fortune dogged West Indies throughout the day as they lost their most experienced batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul due to tendinitis in his right knee this morning and were deprived of captain Sarwan late on.

Sarwan, the other man apart from Vaughan featuring this week who played in the two-day Test here seven years ago, crashed into the advertising boards in a failed attempt to cut off a straight-driven four by Paul Collingwood.

Although Sarwan did not dislocate his right shoulder, the damage to the joint kept him off the field for the rest of the evening session and will be reassessed overnight.

Just as at Lord's Collingwood was given an early let off, dropped at second slip by Runako Morton, before falling to Corey Collymore's fine late spell which also accounted for Ian Bell.

Talk when the second Test squad gathered was of which of those two would miss out should Andrew Flintoff prove his fitness.

Both have been in fine form over the past year at Test level but will be part of the selection headache, along with Strauss, at some point later in the summer when Flintoff returns.

One man who will be introduced into the England fold later this series is South African Allan Donald, yesterday appointed bowling consultant for the final two Tests.

Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom may get the chance to work with him after quitting the 'one-Test wonder' club of which his father, Arnie, is a member.

Left-armer Sidebottom, 29, was preferred to the more-established James Anderson, thus ending a six-year wait to add to his sole appearance, earned in victory over Pakistan at Lord's.

It proved a welcome return to his former county headquarters for Sidebottom, who effectively replaced ex-Yorkshire colleague Matthew Hoggard from the team which drew the first Test at Lord's.

Flintoff has been named in Lancashire's 12-man squad for the Friends Provident Trophy clash with Scottish Saltires tomorrow despite a troublesome ankle injury.

Flintoff has had to miss the first two npower Tests of the summer against West Indies, pulling out of the squad for Headingley this week, despite initially being named in a 13-man party.

Flintoff's defection this week was a surprise turn of events after the 29-year-old had apparently come through a short bowling session with no immediate ill-effects at Headingley.

But within three hours it was announced his problem left ankle was still too sore for him to bowl in the second Test.

However, Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson has included the Preston-born star in a 12-man squad for the fixture at Old Trafford. Flintoff will face a fitness test tomorrow morning before it is decided if he can play.