AFTER a series of ups and downs during his days as a fledgling Test batsman, Michael Vaughan has now shrugged off all his injury and bad luck problems and the sheer joy on his face when he had dashed England to that rousing ten-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford this week told its own story.

Everyone who saw Vaughan raising his bat in jubilation as he and Marcus Trescothick were acclaimed by team-mates and spectators alike could sense that the Yorkshire opener was now very much a key part of the England team - and likely to remain so for many years to come.

Trescothick and Vaughan have become firmly established as England's regular opening pair and in time their names may have the same familiar ring to them as famous combinations such as Hutton and Washbrook did for an earlier generation of fans.

Although born in Lancashire, Vaughan spent his boyhood years onwards in Sheffield and he is rightly thought of throughout the Broad Acres as a genuine Yorkshire product.

And all Yorkshire fans will be delighted that Vaughan has made it to the top because he has steadfastly shrugged off his adversities and never doubted for a moment that he had what it takes to become a big-time player.

In addition, Vaughan has never allowed his vision of becoming an England Test star to dampen his enthusiasm for playing county cricket for Yorkshire and whenever he has been available he has willingly donned his White Rose cap and sweater and made every effort to pile up the runs.

The establishment of Vaughan as a regular England opener inevitably means that Yorkshire will see little of him over the next few years - or even the next decade - but one gets the feeling that he will always be with Yorkshire in spirit if not in the flesh.

Vaughan has never needed anyone other than himself to map out his approach to the game and decide what style of play would be best suited to the advancement of his career.

From the time he signed up at the Yorkshire Academy and became the first non-Yorkshire-born player to get a contract with the club, Vaughan had the technique and temperament to become, if he wished, an opening batsman in the old familiar mould - cautious, correct and with a strong desire to occupy the crease for as long as he possibly could.

But he also appreciated that the game was changing fast and that world class opening batsmen were becoming less inhibited and more prepared to go for their shots, Australia being the first to demonstrate that a big first wicket stand in quick time could soon lead to domination of the match.

Vaughan has adopted this style with great success in the recent series against Sri Lanka and his reward has been 285 runs at an average of 71.25. Admittedly, there have been times in the three Tests when his insistence on pressing on has brought his downfall but while out in the middle he has provided rich entertainment for spectators and greatly enhanced his reputation.

Had Vaughan been an opener from the old school he would never have been given the job of going in first with Trescothick this week when England needed to dash up 50 from six overs to win the third and final Test.

Nasser Hussain knew, however, that they were the perfect pair for the job and Vaughan played his part to the full with 24 from 17 balls with three fours, while Trescothick faced 14 deliveries for his 23, hitting three fours and a six. They were so successful that there was still an over to spare when the winning run was scrambled.

Vaughan began this season with exactly 8,000 first class runs under his belt for Yorkshire and early in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's - where he enjoyed scores of 64 and 115 - he completed 1,000 runs for England.

He became only the eighth Yorkshire batsman to top the 1,000 mark for England (others from the county have done it for other countries since the introduction of overseas players) and unless his career is cut short for any reason his name should one day be up among the elite.

Geoff Boycott tops the list with 8,114 Test runs, followed by Len Hutton with 6,971 and Herbert Sutcliffe with 4,555. Vaughan should easily pick off the other four who are Maurice Leyland (2,764), Wilfred Rhodes (2,325), Ray Illingworth (1,836) and The Hon F S Jackson (1,425).

Updated: 12:31 Saturday, June 22, 2002