Cricket Ashes series: England cricket supporters can breathe again. Disaster has been averted, well, for another few days at any rate.

Michael Vaughan, the captain and figurehead, was back in action in the Edgbaston nets yesterday, having survived what must be the side's equivalent of self-harm the previous day when a delivery from one of his own bowlers, Chris Tremlett, hit him on the right elbow and for a short time invoked thoughts of a long spell with his arm in plaster.

Subsequent scans showed all to be as well as could be expected and certainly bruising rather than a break. Getting back on the horse, Vaughan was immediately struck on the right hand, this time by Steve Harmison, prompting more pain. This time, too, he survived.

Vaughan generally seems to collect injuries of a more obscure nature, but perhaps, when added to his timely century for Yorkshire last Sunday, his luck really is changing. The captain will be there to lead England in the second Test today.

When he was hit initially, he feared, such was the pain, there must have been a break.

"I couldn't feel my arm because it had struck a nerve and immediately I thought the worst, that it was a break," he said yesterday. "As soon as the scan came through showing no break I was fine again, because you can relieve the pain from the nerve with an injection."

It is as well that Vaughan is fit, for without him, his low scores at Lord's notwithstanding, the chances of England forcing their way back into the series would be negligible, with the entire middle order lacking any sort of experience at this level.

As it is, England will have their work cut out now to make an impact on an Australia side which dispelled any small doubts they might have had with a ruthless display in the first Test, led by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

If Edgbaston is the ground most favoured by the England side, then they will need all the extra help they can muster. This is a match they cannot afford to lose for Old Trafford, venue for the third Test a week today, has been purgatory for them. Should England lose in Birmingham, Australia will know that they have the job all but done.

To win, England have to raise the level of their performance at Lord's a number of notches, particularly the batting, Kevin Pietersen apart for which yesterday he became the 13th England player to be awarded a central contract.

It may be tempting fate to say that McGrath is unlikely to pose quite the level of threat at Edgbaston, but there is no slope to exploit and the prospect of a sluggish pitch means that he will need to change his length to something a little fuller and revert to his habitual attrition outside off stump.

"Various ways have been suggested to counter him," said Vaughan, "such as batting out of the crease, standing on off stump, or even taking a chance by having a go at him. But attacking him is very difficult when he bowls as he did at Lord's. We have all worked very hard this week and there are various new plans, areas to work on and shots to play."

Whether McGrath or any of the other pace bowlers get the help from the pitch suggested in the aftermath of the recent tornado is debatable. "We won't know until a ball has been bowled on it," Vaughan offered helpfully.

There has been a massive change in its appearance since the quagmire which prompted the addition to the squad of Paul Collingwood. Yesterday, it had dried out, superficially anyway. It looks flat. That may yet prove deceptive, so the decision whether or not to take first knock could be a crucial one. Vaughan agrees that the new ball will dent the surface, leading increasingly to uneven bounces.

Chances are that there will be turn later, so batting first seems the best option. It is all a conundrum. "Overall, a good toss to lose," was Vaughan's take on it. "I'll probably win it." - Guardian Service