Injury-prone Vaughan out to prove his worth

For someone with a monopoly on bad luck, it is somewhat ironic that Michael Vaughan's latest chance at Test level arrived through another's misfortune.

The Yorkshire batsman got his opportunity in the second Test at Ahmedabad last week after Graham Thorpe announced on the eve of the match he was to return home to sort out his marital problems.

Today Vaughan plays in only his 13th Test match, out of a possible 28, since he made his debut more than two years ago against South Africa in Johannesburg.

His influence when he has played has been considerable. England have won six and drawn three of the 12 games he has played in. But a spate of injuries have prevented him from building on his promise and improving his Test average of just under 33.

He started this tour as a near certainty for the opening Test in Mohali, only for coach Duncan Fletcher to opt for a tactical re-think – the need for five bowlers in Indian conditions.

Now Vaughan, 27, has the chance to cement a place in the side, like Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash have since his cartilage tears offered them their chances against Australia last summer.

"I was disappointed to see Graham go," said Vaughan. "But in the summer I missed out through injury and gave my place to two lads who have done well and are in the team still.

"Hopefully this opportunity, which was obviously unfortunate for Graham, is the start of a long run in the side for myself. As soon as we went for the strategy of five batsmen and two all-rounders, I knew I was going to struggle. Now I just hope I can take my chance and remain injury free so I can play as many Tests as possible."

Even at Ahmedabad, Vaughan was not trouble free, the virus that has swept the England camp laid him low. He shed 6kg as a result and had to bat at seven in the second innings and spent most of India's first innings off the field.

Vaughan might well be pleased to see the back of 2001. His summer started well with a maiden Test hundred against Pakistan, but turned into a nightmare as the cartilage tear forced him out of the entire Ashes series. It followed numerous other injuries that have blighted him in the past two years, including a calf problem, a heavily bruised finger and a fractured wrist.

"I had my cartilage operation on the first morning of the first Test last summer. Turning the television on was hard to take and I didn't watch the first two matches. As my fitness got better and I was gradually starting to get towards playing again, I started to watch again. There is an opportunity to play against them next winter and hopefully I will still be in the side by then."

For the present, however, he hopes to massage some runs out of a wicket likely to offer turn to Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, on his home ground.

He had faced only a handful of deliveries from spinners on this tour when he was told he would be facing the pair, 12 hours or so before the scheduled start of play last week.

But no amount of video watching could help him prepare for the challenge of facing them in the middle. "I think the hour-and-a half at the crease I had was a great opportunity and also a good chance to have a look at them. That 30-odd not out I got in the second innings might not seem a massive score, but hopefully I have gained confidence from it."

If Vaughan's confidence proves sufficient to help England level the series, all the frustrations and disappointments of the past 18 months will quickly be forgotten.