Vaughan Looks Forward to the Day When He Can Say the F-word

Innings-wins are never to be sniffed at but Michael Vaughan's insistence that his side can do even better after completing their fourth win in five Tests over New Zealand was followed, inevitably perhaps, by the F-word. "If Flintoff's fit, I'd love to have him in the team against South Africa," said the England captain. "We have four weeks before the first Test and I hope he'll get his side [strain] right and get enough cricket and be confident in himself and his form."

Flintoff is on course to return from injury in time for Lancashire's four-day game against Sussex at Hove from June 29 and, if Vaughan's assessment - motivated in part by the temptation of a five-man attack - will keep others on their toes, then it was echoed by Daniel Vettori, who wore a haunted look after his side's latest capitulation.

There's always that dangling of Flintoff in the corner," the New Zealand captain said . "You throw him in the mix and you've got a very complete team. Once he comes back, it's going to be a tough side to beat for anyone."

Vaughan's refusal to go overboard after Ryan Sidebottom took four wickets in four overs to help blow New Zealand away in the first hour of play could be traced back to another shaky display by the middle-order on Thursday, when England found themselves 86 for five shortly after lunch. Each of their wins over New Zealand this year - at Wellington, Napier, Old Trafford and now here - have been chiseled out of adversity, which made Vaughan's reaction a well-worn one.

"A sign of a good team is getting out of these positions," he said, "but a sign of a really good team is not getting into them in the first place. We've got areas to improve and the South Africa series will be the ultimate test of where we're at as a Test team."

Even so, the rediscovery of the winning habit after seven Tests without a victory between June 2007 and March 2008, not to mention the most consistent selection policy - at least statistically - since the 19th century, prompted Vaughan to claim "we've got better and better each game" and was yesterday reflected by England's leapfrogging of South Africa into third place in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings.

If England's only major cloud concerns the form of Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood - Vaughan reiterated his support for them yesterday - then Vettori was left to reflect grimly on yet another missed opportunity. "Looking back over the six Tests, the only time we were able to compete over the five days was at Hamilton [the first of them, and a win].

"Unfortunately every other time we haven't been able to keep up with the pace of England. It's a lack of ability on our part and a lack of fortitude, too, and it's something we have to look at."

The limited-overs matches, beginning with Friday's Twenty20 encounter at Old Trafford, now represent the tourists' only chance of consolation.