29 May 2004	Saturday	09 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LONDON, May 28: When Nasser Hussain announced his retirement on Thursday he said "seven (batsmen) into six doesn't go." But the former captain's exit still leaves England with a problem ahead of Sunday's announcement of the team for next week's second Test against New Zealand at Headingley.

Current skipper Michael Vaughan is set to return on his home ground, the Yorkshire batsman having missed England's seven-wicket first Test win against New Zealand at Lord's concluded on Monday with a knee injury.

The series opener was marked by England debutant Andrew Strauss's 112 and 83, the Middlesex skipper's second innings cut short by a run-out mix-up with Hussain. However, Essex batsman Hussain once again showed his resilience by bowing out of cricket with an unbeaten 103 to take England to victory.

Strauss's performance though has left the selectors with a headache as the South African-born left-hander is an opener as is Vaughan. Together with Somerset left-hander Marcus Trescothick, right-handed batsman Vaughan has formed a productive opening partnership.

Now the selectors must decide whether to restore Vaughan to his usual spot at the top of the order or move Strauss despite his superb debut.

Vaughan, 29, saw his right knee suffer no adverse reaction to a Yorkshire training session on Friday and Monday's National League one-day contest against Scotland in Edinburgh will serve as a final fitness check ahead of the start of the second Test on Thursday. -AFP