Nothing to do with his captaincy nor the fact that South Africa won the last Test (I suspect they may well win another one and push the Aussies very close this Winter).

It's his batting. Sheffield's finest has come under pressure before after a few low scores - a run not too uncommon.

Along the way, he's pulled out an "I'll show 'em" knock after a few failures, including this summer against New Zealand.

Now, after scores of 2, 0 and 21 and looking a tad uncomfortable into the bargain, Vaughan finds experts and non-experts putting the squeeze on him.

In short, justify your place in the side with some runs. The captaincy isn't the problem. A continued lack of runs may well be.

Vaughan has usually responded in superb fashion in the past and come up with a score. A good score at Edgbaston next week would be very timely - but then again, it doesn't need to be one in isolation.

The fear for Vaughan supporters, followers and English cricket in general, is that he continues in this vein whereby it would be a struggle to make out a case for him seeing things through to the Ashes next Summer.

England can't have a No 3 who isn't making runs. Neither a wicketkeeper nor a No 6 whoever that may be. And it doesn't help when your star batsman gets out for 13 after just five balls when you're supposed to be batting to save the game.

South Africa aren't just leading this series on matches won but in attitude and application too.

England - and the most successful captain in the country's Test history - have much to do in the next couple of weeks.

COINCIDENCE note:

The Test match commentary was on in the background and I heard something about Kevin Pietersen dismissing Nasser Hussain when he was England captain during a tour to South Africa. At the weekend, some of the stuff to clear out in the loft included some old papers. As you do - well, as I do - it's hard not resist a glance through.

There, on December 6, 1999, was a report of England's match against Kwazulu Natal in Durban.

Batting at No 9 for the home side was one K P Pietersen. He made 61 not out.

He then was on as first change with his off spin and bowled the small matter of 55 overs and among his four wickets was, indeed, Nasser Hussain. Clean bowled.

He also dismissed Michael Atherton, Michael Vaughan and Chris Adams - not a bad quartet of scalps in all.

The excellent Michael Henderson, then reporting for the Daily Telegraph and seen recently strolling the boundary and enjoying the the delights of Queens Park, wrote of the home side's attack... "the only one to look a top notcher was Pietersen, the 19-year-old all-rounder."

He noted the four wickets taken and concluded... "he mixed it up a bit, bowling quite a few quicker balls.. and made a bracing half-century the day before too, and is one to watch."

IT'S definitely different to Millmoor but those of us who'll be down at the Don Valley Stadium on a regular basis are getting used to it two games in. And my 'must' list is growing.

Yes, pen, notebook, phone, voice recorder, etc., the usual stuff. But I'm learning what else will be required. Firstly, get wrapped up.

Somebody with past experience said that on one occasion he'd have been warmer covering ice skating in the Antarctic. Well, having once covered an athletics meeting there on a Friday night in June and been grateful I was dressed as if for a winter football match, I know what he means.

Binoculars because we need to pick out those hard-to-see numbers far off in the distance. Umbrella and waterproof bottoms (the rain can swirl in); woolly hat (never worn one but might need to); gloves; sunglasses (sun was beaming in the other night); sellotape (stick down teamsheet to prevent it blowing away); whisky (a tot or two in the half-time tea).

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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