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The good news is Michael Vaughan made his long-awaited comeback this morning for the England Academy team against a Western Australia XI in Perth. The bad news is he lasted only seven balls.
Being dismissed for a duck by edging Darren Wates behind hardly mattered though, as his troublesome knee appeared to be unaffected by the action.
Earlier, Vaughan had spent the first 12 overs in the field before going to the rooms for a 45-minute break. He then spent another hour in the field, before leaving again for the final 45 minutes of the home side’s innings.
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“It’s a huge positive to me that I am back on the field playing cricket,” the Ashes-winning captain said. “Obviously it is slightly disappointing I didn’t get any runs - but to be honest, today was all about getting back to playing cricket.
“It is the early stages of the comeback, but six months ago I never thought I would get back to the stage of playing cricket again. It was a really tough time. Thankfully I’ve got to this stage and next week I hope get a few runs and spend a little bit more time in the middle.”
Although admitting to feeling pain during the match while fielding, Vaughan said his comeback is going as planned and that he will continue in his bid to return to full fitness. “I only felt a little bit [of pain]. But it’s my first game back - that’s why I only fielded for 35 overs.
“Over the next few days I will be having plenty of practice, plenty of middle practice, and I hope to play a full part in next Wednesday’s game. I hope in the next few weeks I can get my game in a decent amount of order and also spend a little bit more time in the middle.
“You can net as much as you want; you can middle-practise as much as you want, but playing a game is what I need at the minute.”
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As for a comeback to the Test arena, Vaughan is still uncertain about when he may return. “I honestly don’t know. This is just the first day of what has been a long rehab program,” he said.
“The goal for me to play cricket was January, so for me to play today and to actually get the whites on was a lot sooner than we all expected. That’s a good sign. It is frustrating you are missing games of cricket, but on a positive note I’m back playing. A few months ago I didn’t think I would get to this stage, so I’m quite happy.”
Vaughan does not doubt he can get back to his best but is more concerned with the physical aspect of things. “The actual form side is not a huge worry, because that always comes back eventually. It’s just the movement of the knee and the cricket movements - which today I got through quite well.
“The real test will be when I have to spend the whole day in the field or bat for four or five hours.”
Vaughan, 32, had not played since June 21, when a failed comeback for Yorkshire in the county championship against Sussex at Arundel persuaded him to have another operation on his right knee. He has not played a Test match since last November but has inimated he would like to be ready for the fourth Ashes match of the series, which begins on Boxing Day.
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Vaughan’s duck compounded a disastrous start for the touring side. Chasing 219 for victory in the 44-over a side match, they were 12 for five. A mini recovery ended when they were bowled out for 218.