Vaughan returns with a century

England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, right, celebrates scoring his century with teammate Kevin Pietersen during the first day of the second Test match against the West Indies at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

England captain Michael Vaughan said scoring a century on his return to Test cricket was as "fine a feeling as I've ever felt in the game."

Vaughan marked his return to the Test arena after 18 months on the sidelines with 103 in front of his Headingley home crowd -- something he said he felt "destined" to achieve -- as England scored 366 for five on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies on Friday.

The 32-year-old batsman hadn't played a Test since appearing against Pakistan in Lahore in December 2005 after a knee injury and a hamstring problem left him a frustrated spectator.

And just when it seemed he was about to return to the team, a broken finger sustained while batting in the county championship kept him out of the side for the drawn first Test of this four-match series at Lord's.

But Vaughan made good on his decision to bat first after winning the toss with his 16th century in his 65th Test, his fourth against West Indies and first at this level at Headingley.

He wasn't alone with Kevin Pietersen, who put on 163 with his captain, 130 not out at stumps.

"That's as fine a feeling as I've ever felt in the game," the England captain told reporters after stumps.

"It was almost destiny for me to get a hundred on comeback on my home ground. I had 18 months out of Test match cricket. I know I'm a good player, but you still have to go out there and do it," he said. "When you've had such a long lay-off, of course there are doubts in the back of your mind -- whether you're going to see the ball, whether you'll react, whether the feet are going to move under pressure. The most pleasing aspect of today is that I scored a hundred under pressure."

He added: "To produce it under that pressure is why it stands with the innings I played at Old Trafford [when he scored 166 against Australia during the 2005 Ashes, his previous Test hundred]. Both are very special."

Vaughan also paid tribute to the medical staff who helped him regain fitness.

"The knee surgeon who did the operation was here today, and it was the only day he was going to come. Thanks to Nick London and all the ECB medical team for getting me back in this condition," he said.

Looking at the match situation, Vaughan said: "We are in a great position as a team -- 366 for five on the first day at Headingley."

And he readily acknowledged Pietersen's role in England's total.

"He's a tremendous player. He has an effect on the opposition, because he's so confident in the way he plays and hits the ball in strange areas," Vaughan said after the South Africa-born batsman had scored his second Test hundred in as many innings after his 109 at Lord's and his eighth in all.

Pieterson went on to achieve his double-century shortly after the lunch interval yesterday. He was 201 not out off 251 balls shortly before press time yesterday, as England put on a big first innings score.

West Indies suffered two injury blows. Before play began senior batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was ruled out with tendinitis in his right knee.

And in the final session captain Ramnaresh Sarwan had to leave the field with a shoulder injury after falling heavily while trying to stop a boundary.

Sarwan was subsequently taken to hospital where he underwent a scan.

"We still don't know what the scans will reveal but we are very optimistic he will be able to join us in this game," said West Indies vice-captain Daren Ganga. "We are going to remain optimistic until we hear what's happening."