SYDNEY, Jan 8: Michael Vaughan's return as England captain adds spice to the one-off Twenty20 international against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Sandwiched between the serious business of the Ashes and the triangular one-day tournament, the Twenty20 clash is unlikely to provide too many form pointers but Vaughan will be keen to make a good impression in his first international for over a year.Vaughan will try to lift English spirits following their 5-0 Ashes drubbing but will not be expecting a gentle workout following his long-awaited recovery from a knee injury.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting will seek to keep the hosts firmly in the ascendancy at the start of final preparations for their World Cup defence this year, and coach John Buchanan has said they will target Vaughan if he shows any sign of weakness.“We'll try to exploit any deficiency, whether it's technical, physical, mental or tactical,” Buchanan told reporters.

“If we understand that Michael's struggling physically, then that will be one area we will like to target.”

Vaughan himself is confident his knee will stand up to the rigours ahead.

“I'm not too worried about it with all the practice I've been doing,” he said. “I know it's not the same as a match situation but it certainly won't be a question of hiding myself in the field, I am able to field wherever I want.”

England have had a poor record in one-day cricket recently but can take heart from their last Twenty20 game against Australia, a crushing 100-run victory on home soil in 2005 which set them up to win back the Ashes.

The touring side may call up batsman Ed Joyce, seamer Jon Lewis and off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple, none of whom played in the Ashes series.

Australia are resting seamers Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark following their Ashes exertions and are likely to play youngster Ben Hilfenhaus.—Reuters