Vaughan (120 not out) came into this game under an injury cloud with a twisted right knee. Although during the course of his innings, the 28-year-old has given the right knee a good work out with great footwork and good, quick running between the wickets.

The Yorkshireman played a cracking back foot shot to reach three figures.

Most significantly, the century was his first outside England, his first against Australia and his sixth Test hundred. It included two sixes and 12 fours. In 12 matches the opener has now scored close to 1200 runs.

After lunch, Vaughan appeared to be a little tied down, not because of great bowling but due to the right-hander not playing as positively and he appeared unable to get his timing right. That’s not to say the Australians were bowling badly, just the Adelaide pitch is a great batting track and Lady Luck has run with England today.

Lady Luck helped Vaughan when he tried to drive Jason Gillespie (0/48) only to have the ball take the bottom of the bat and fly in the direction of slips. Shane Warne (1/51) jumped high, and to the right, clawing at the ball with his spinning hand. Vaughan hit the ball hard and high enough so Warne was in a precarious position. Warne may have slightly hurt his middle finger on his right hand after failing in his attempt.

Vaughan, after reaching three figures, took a quick single with Steve Waugh (0/2) coming charging in from mid-on. The Australian skipper's throw missed by centimetres, yet, had he hit Vaughan would have been out by more than a metre.

Other opportunities were available for Australia, yet shots were hit hard and fielders were unable to make the four catches stick.

Ricky Ponting though finally held the ball to get rid of Robert Key (1). Key drove at a Warne delivery, which hit Ponting on the shin at silly mid-on. The ball bobbed up from his shin; Ponting juggled the ball and then safely took the catch.

Since then Australia have not been able to penetrate the defences of the England batmen. Both Vaughan and Nasser Hussain (35 not out) have taken England to a secure position. The runs and boundaries keep coming with the strike continually rotated.

After winning the toss and batting, England openers Marcus Trescothick (35) and Michael Vaughan (56 not out) have psychologically mended some of the damage inflicted upon England from the first Test. Albeit the duo had some help, the opening pair played aggressively and positively. Both players, though especially Trescothick, look to be more confident and better players when they are playing confident shots rather than tentative strokes.

Facing the menacing Glenn McGrath (1/30) and Jason Gillespie (0/25), the two took England to just over three runs per over off the first 10 overs. And after seeing off McGrath, Vaughan nearly saw himself back in the pavilion from a delivery from seamer Andy Bichel (0/20).

Vaughan played a magnificent pull shot 15 rows back over the boundary off Bichel's second ball, yet three balls later he stood his ground after Justin Langer caught him in the gully.

Trying to drive, he got an outside edge into the hands of Langer. Langer moved well forward, yet Vaughan appeared unsure whether the Western Australian caught the ball. The decision was referred to third umpire Steve Davis. Although replays showed Langer had caught the ball properly, the third umpire gave Vaughan a life, declaring the right-hander not out through benefit of the doubt.

In the next over, Trescothick cut the ball hard in the direction of Matthew Hayden in the gully, but the sharp chance passed through his hands. Seemingly having more lives than a cat, Trescothick had a return catch to the bowler referred to the third umpire. He was given not out with the replays showing the ball bounced before Bichel in his follow through; denying Bichel a wicket for the second time.

Shane Warne (0/19) was brought into the attack early but the leg-spinner had no success, going for nine in his first over. Though in his successive overs, he showed the pitch had some turn.

Trescothick ran out of lives when he played a bottom edge onto his stumps, giving McGrath and Australia their long-awaited first wicket. Trescothick played very well for his 35 runs, yet it was his indecision that brought about his downfall.

Robert Key (one not out) brought into the side after his 174 not out in the tour match in Tasmania, was promoted up the order coming in ahead of Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain.

Vaughan and Key must continue to build on the good start made by the openers. After securing his 50, Vaughan looks capable of a big score and will be keen to power on and take England into a positive position at tea.

After winning the toss, Hussain had no hesitation in batting and will be looking to his two openers to emulate their Australian opposites in the first Test.

There will be some early life in the pitch but it will turn into a beautiful batting wicket.

Vaughan came into the match having twisted his knee and Alec Stewart was put on stand-by to open the batting. Yet the 28-year-old will bat with slight discomfort and take on the new ball.

The two rival sides are meeting in the second instalment of the Ashes series at the picturesque Adelaide Oval. For both sides the lead up-has been worrying with injuries plaguing key players.

Australia’s only real concern since the 384-run win at the Gabba has been Jason Gillespie. He strained a calf muscle, yet the South Australian is set to play in front of his home crowd.

Andrew Bichel will be the third strike bowler, backing up Glenn McGrath and Gillespie. Speedster Brett Lee will carry the drinks.

The tourists have had a mile of injuries to deal with, since their satisfying draw against Australia A in the three-day match in Tasmania.

John Crawley, the only batsmen to offer any real resistance to the Australian attack in the first Test is out with a hip injury. Crawley was struck on the hip during the Tour match and will be replaced Robert Key.

Key has been in good form. He made a century during the tour match in Tasmania.

Ashley Giles who took six wickets in first Test is out with a broken wrist. Steve Harmison struck him during a net session. Robert Dawson will be the spinner for England.

Twenty four-year-old Harmison will replace Simon Jones who ruptured his anterior knee ligament during the first day of the Ashes Test.