Typical Vaughan - a classy innings and a freak injury

What a comeback England have had. What a disappointment not be part of it. Being part of international cricket home or away these days is to be part of a squad but a professional sportsmen wants to be part of the team. You want to share in the ups and downs and the only way to do that is out on the pitch.

What a comeback England have had. What a disappointment not be part of it. Being part of international cricket home or away these days is to be part of a squad but a professional sportsmen wants to be part of the team. You want to share in the ups and downs and the only way to do that is out on the pitch.

Matthew Hoggard, the man who has taken my place, has bowled well. He has managed movement and taken wickets. I can only wish him luck. But it is my place he has. It is my place that I want back.

It somehow seems harder to be out of the side as a formerly established player. It is difficult to adjust. But I shall have to if I want to be back. How to do it? That is the question. I have been left out before, but not for a long time. There is no point in dwelling on this too much, on feeling existential angst or some such.

The chances are that with the Yorkshire duo of Darren Gough and Hoggard now being effective with the new ball I will not play in the decisive match of the one-day series on Tuesday. I have to look forward to the Test matches and I have to be ready and fit to bowl until I burst and let them, the coach, the captain, selectors that they were wrong to do without me. I am not finished. Not by a long chalk.

England can win this now. It has been a tip-top series played in a riveting atmosphere. Raucous but much different from the raucousness of India. The crowds have been large and happy. They have supported New Zealand to the hilt, although it is noticeable that the Barmy Army is growing in numbers.

England have grown massively in stature in a week. From 2-0 down to 2-2 in a week shows that we are becoming the kings of the comeback. This team fight all the way. Do not forget that a week ago England were bowled out for 89. Now we have won twice in four days and the momentum is with us. The Kiwis are not to be underestimated but they know they are in a game now. It is they who will be suffering doubts now. After coming back from 3-1 down in India we always knew anything was possible.

The showpiece of yesterday was provided by Michael Vaughan. Since he came into the side two years ago he has always exhibited class. It's not my job to select but I always like him in the side. His half-century was a classy affair, typical of the man. Then he goes on to get injured. He took a nasty tumble on to his right shoulder. I hope for his sake that he improves quickly. He has missed too much cricket through misfortune. He can and will be a big part of England's future.

We were a tad fortunate with the Duckworth-Lewis System favouring us yesterday but we still had to take advantage of the conditions. There was some movement, the sort I might have liked actually. I always thought we had enough runs on the board, but you never know. The seam bowlers all did very well. There was always hope for New Zealand but even Chris Cairns could not pull it out of the fire for them. England kept their nerve.

This has the potential to be a good side. I honestly feel now we can make big advances over the year. There is not a lot of time before the World Cup and nobody expects us to win it but we we are improving. Having come back so well it would not be a disaster to lose here on Tuesday but we are not thinking like that any more. We can win and we can win well.

I want to be part of it. I am a senior player, I do not want to be in the dressing having people feel sorry for me. It has been a fraught time but I have to get on with it. I will be back.