Vaughan and Harmison Give Miller Food for Thought

While the odds are the England squad for next week's first Test against South Africa will be unchanged, chairman of selectors Geoff Miller left Headingley yesterday with much to think about.

To start with, he knows Michael Vaughan remains in reasonable form. After his first innings duck, the England captain underwent a thorough examination at the hands of Steve Harmison, who proved his own fitness by bowling 12 consecutive overs from the Rugby Stand End. From Vaughan's point of view, it was ideal preparation for facing the South Africa quicks, and he played Harmison solidly enough, moving from his overnight 48 to 72 before Harmison bowled him with a delivery that moved back into him and kept a touch low.

Miller must also be aware, however, that the condition of Vaughan's right knee remains a concern. While it did not appear to hamper his batting, the fact is Vaughan did not move particularly freely in the field yesterday, and he did not field at all after tea, when he was seen in the players' area holding an ice pack on the knee.

"It's difficult to say too much, Michael has a [pre-arranged] press conference on Friday and he'll outline his position then, but he has got a few body issues," said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's Director of Cricket.

"There's no danger of him missing the Test match, but the knee is a little bit sore. He needs to give his body time to recover and let the niggles settle, which is why he won't be playing in the FP Trophy semi-final [between Yorkshire and Essex on Saturday]."

Vaughan's captain at Yorkshire, Darren Gough, was characteristically dismissive of any suggestion of a serious problem. "His knee is stiff," said Gough, "that's what happens when you've had four or five operations. He'll be fine."

Both Moxon and Gough sung the praises of Harmison, who as well as bowling Vaughan, also dismissed Yorkshire's other danger man, Adam Lyth, when the lively young left-hander had reached a career-best 80.

"Steve's match fitness is excellent, talking to him he's obviously thoroughly enjoying his cricket again, and England are lucky to have him in their back pocket," said Moxon. "With everybody else the wicket looked flat," shrugged Gough.

With Lyth and Vaughan went Yorkshire's only real chance of saving the game. Thereafter all Durham had to do was keep pegging away, in the knowledge that the out of form Yorkshire batsmen would contribute to their own dismissals.

Andrew Gale duly tried to pull a Callum Thorp delivery that wasn't short enough, Adil Rashid reached for a wide one from Liam Plunkett, and Gerard Brophy chipped a simple catch to cover. Tim Bresnan got a good one from Plunkett, who was getting the ball to reverse swing, and only some late, belligerent resistance from Gough, whose 34 came off just 23 balls, gave another substantial crowd something to cheer about.

Two quick wickets for Matthew Hoggard when Durham began their reply briefly encouraged their hopes for an extraordinary turnaround, but Michael Di Venuto extinguished them with a rapid half century. Paul Collingwood was with him at the close and, after another scratchy start, was beginning to look a little more like an England batsman than he has recently.

"We were beaten by the better team, but it's no disgrace to lose to Durham, they'll be in the top two or three at the end of the season. We'll forget this and concentrate on preparing for Essex," said Gough, who is hoping to end his career with a first appearance in a domestic final at Lord's.