Big questions are test for Vaughan

But only Vaughan truly knows whether Hussain's continued presence in a dressing room he ran so forcefully until a fortnight ago is likely to be a help or a hindrance. No one can be better placed than the new skipper to judge if Stewart has reached the end of the line three matches ahead of schedule. Finally, only Vaughan is able to say how comfortable he would feel about Thorpe's return.

The captain has said just enough this week to encourage a bit of guesswork.

"There is still room for senior players," he commented after confessing that South Africa seemed "more hungry" than his team at Lord's. "But if they are going to be in the team they are going to have to play an extra role in passing on their experience to others.

"I do not want to see them just concentrating on their own speciality, I want them leading by example and helping out those coming into the team."

That sounds like a clear message to Hussain who, perhaps not surprisingly, at least gave the impression at Lord's he was still dwelling on his decision to give up the captaincy.

But the 35-year-old has made it clear this week he wants to help England turn around their series against South Africa and that should be enough to convince Vaughan - at least for the moment.

Dropping Stewart now seems to make little sense.

England are not keen to promote Andrew Flintoff from No7, despite his century in a losing cause at Lord's. Given that Stewart is the only keeper in the country capable of batting in the top six, any replacement - be it Chris Read, Geraint Jones or James Foster - would have to take a bowler's place at No8.

South African first innings totals of 594 for five and 682 for six indicate a need to strengthen, not weaken, the home attack.

But it is the Thorpe question that appears hardest for England to answer.

Vaughan denies he doesn't want the Surrey left-hander in his team because of lingering fears that any fresh upheaval in his personal life could quickly return him to the brooding, unhappy man who quit England's tour of India 20 months ago and then pulled out of last winter's Ashes trip.

Perhaps significantly, though, Vaughan has not said he would love to have Thorpe in his side, as was the case when Darren Gough's name was thrown at him before the oneday internationals.

England could just about claim that although 34-year-old Thorpe is in good form he's not currently destroying county opponents in the manner of Kent's Ed Smith - Standard Sport's July player of the month after scoring five centuries in six championship innings.

Given Thorpe's continued absence, though, the No5 spot will most likely remain with Anthony McGrath, Vaughan's Yorkshire colleague and a thoroughly solid citizen.

McGrath even averages in excess of 40 as a Test cricketer, just like Thorpe, which goes to show that statistics can prove whatever you want.

All logical cricket argument supports Thorpe's return.

Even if he doesn't make it, though, one member of Surrey's treble-chasing squad should return to England's fold with paceman Ormond pushing for a place created this week by Gough's retirement.