CRICKET: Batting poser for England skipper.

MICHAEL Vaughan heads back to Headingley hopeful of making a triumphant return for England in their third game of the NatWest Triangular Series against Zimbabwe tomorrow, but still unsure where his best position is in the newlook oneday side.

The Yorkshire batsman missed Saturday's memorable triumph over South Africa at The Oval after sustaining a back strain and is hopeful of making his comeback after two days of treatment from physiotherapist Dean Conway.

But if he does shake off an injury which first flared up prior to England's opening defeat by Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last Thursday, the big question to be solved is where the captain will best fit in the batting order.

Vaughan has failed to convince at number three so far this summer and is yet to pass 30 in that position, and while many critics believe his best slot is opening alongside Marcus Trescothick, the brilliant century by Vikram Solanki at The Oval ended that possibility.

Solanki hit 106 off only 108 balls, including 17 boundaries, and shared in a record England opening oneday partnership of 200 with Trescothick and Vaughan stressed: ``Someone wrote that I should go and open the batting, well I think that's been put to one side - people have been suggesting I should open, but there's no way I can do that now when Vikram plays like that.''

Instead, Vaughan may consider batting at number four to help England during the middle period of the innings - an area which caused great concern for coach Duncan Fletcher during their defeat by Zimbabwe.

What is certain is that Solanki has now cemented his place alongside Trescothick at the top of the order with a magnificent display despite failing to pass 40 in his previous 12 oneday international appearances. ``He has a natural talent and it was there to see on Saturday, he's such a fluent, natural batsman when he goes,'' enthused Vaughan.

``It was just a case of trying to get that ability out of him to go out there and play with the same freedom that he has done for Worcestershire for the last few years.

``We haven't said too much to him apart from telling him to go out and bat in the same way he does for Worces t er.

``Looking at his face when he reached his three figures there was a huge delight there.''

As Vaughan knows only too well, having played 11 Tests before scoring his first century for England, the first success of a young player's career can often spur them on to a higher level of performance, as he did by becoming the highest Test runscorer in the world in 2002.

``It's a huge milestone to get your first international hundred and to do it in the manner that he did it was impressive, against a very good South African team when we're chasing 260 and we'd lost convincingly on Thursday when he hadn't scored that many,'' added Vau g h a n

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# IN FULL FLOW Vikram Solanki heads towards his maiden; international century.