Still, South Africa - now 2-1 ahead in this series with three games to play - were quick to seize on the opportunity.
Asked whether he had detected homeward-bound vibes from England, captain Graeme Smith said: "Only from Harmy's comments in the press." Even though Harmison improved after yesterday's nightmarish start, Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher may well decide to replace him with Matthew Hoggard for the next match, in East London, on Wednesday.
Hoggard, so influential during the Test series, was rested at Newlands after looking jaded during last Friday's narrow defeat at Port Elizabeth.
But the No 11 spot should not be the only place being considered between now and Wednesday afternoon.
England's decision to try Geraint Jones at the top of the order was fair enough because all possibilities have to be explored in the two-year build-up to the next World Cup.
But, so far, Jones has scored 8, 20, 39 and 19 in this series whereas, batting at No 7 in Zimbabwe before Christmas, he produced knocks of 66 and 80.
It is not as though England are short of specialist openers in this squad. As well as Marcus Trescothick, there is Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Vikram Solanki.
Strauss, though, is another of this winter's ever-presents who looks as though he could do with a rest right now - or perhaps a revitalising move up the order.
The Middlesex lefthander has not found the one-day game quite so straightforward as Test cricket and seven completed innings, against Zimbabwe and South Africa, have brought a top score of 35.
