Pietersen to force change in England's Ashes order

After three centuries and a 75 in six one-day innings, however, Pietersen has become the hottest property in English cricket. And by moving up to take on the problem No 3 spot himself, Vaughan can create a middle order berth for his South Africa born batsman.

Whichever way it is done, though, the idea of Pietersen warming up against Bangladesh and then putting some extra fire into the Ashes contest seems too good to resist right now.

One theory has it that Pietersen could struggle against a barrage of shortpitched bowling in Test cricket and that he tries to play into the leg-side too often to cut it at the highest level.

But far from dampening down mountingspeculation that Hampshire's winter-signing from Notts has made himself-impossible to ignore, Vaughan gleefully sang his praises after South Africa had sealed the one-day series 4-1.

"I don't see any reason why not," said Vaughan when asked if Pietersen could star on the Test stage as well.

"He's an immense talent and plays the game in a very good manner."

Losing the one-day series has taken a thin coat of gloss off England's winter.

They can, of course, console themselves with the thought that several players were clearly tired and they had to get by without a vital all-rounder in Andrew Flintoff.

But, despite thee run-laden arrival of Pietersen (454 in six knocks against South Africa at an average of 151.33), it is difficult to agree with Vaughan's assessment that England are making real progress at one-day level.

Darren Gough has been the pick of their bowlers but, at 34 and with a wonky knee, it must be odds against him reaching the 2007 World Cup.

Then there is the strange refusal to settle on a 'proper' opening partner for Marcus Trescothick, even though there were three candidates here in Strauss, Vaughan and Vikram Solanki.

Instead, England stubbornly stuck to their experiment with Geraint Jones, even when it was clear he didn't know whether to block, blast or accumulate.

One thing is for sure, though: they must get their one-day act together soon because Australia will use those games to destroy individual and collective confidence before the Ashes series.