Michael Vaughan has passed himself fit after Tuesday's injury scare and will lead England in Thursday's 2nd Test against Australia.

Vaughan was taken to hospital after being struck on the right elbow by a rising delivery from Chris Tremlett during net practice, but an X-ray revealed deep bruising but no fracture.

"It hit me right on the end of the elbow and it trapped a nerve," he said. "That was what was causing the pain. Once I'd had it X-rayed and had a jab it was fine. I feared the worst. If it had been a break it wouldn't have been just one missed Test, it would have been a lot more. A lot of emotions run through your mind."

Vaughan returned to practice on Wednesday morning, beginning with gentle throwdowns from coach Duncan Fletcher before facing spin from Ashley Giles and Kevin Pietersen.

The only moment of visible discomfort came when he was hit on the right hand by a rising delivery from Steve Harmison, and though he left the nets two balls later he did not appear to have been seriously inconvenienced.

3 Aug, 2005