Vaughan has a rush job but it is not impossible

Now, though, it feels different. This is the start of his reign proper; now, it's his team, they bend to his will and he's charged with improving an undistinguished record of two England wins in the last nine series.

If he becomes the first captain to lose a Test to Bangladesh, he'll get slaughtered.

Such a defeatist suggestion draws a feisty response. "Even if we lose to Australia, we get slaughtered," said Vaughan. "It makes me laugh when people ask if I'm worried about losing. I can't stand those questions. I'm not worried about losing; the only thing I'd worry about is if we didn't give everything to win. And we will give everything.

"We'll give Bangladesh the same respect as Australia - they almost beat Pakistan recently - but still I believe we can win all three series this winter if we work our nuts off physically, technically and mentally."

The way his side have responded to his leadership persuades him they won't be found wanting for effort.

"The game's on top of you the whole time on a tour like this and you have to bond as a 22-strong party. Social committees don't create this; it comes from things like running from fine leg to get the cap for a team-mate who's just bowled a six-over spell in 95-degree heat.

"Look at the videos of The Oval and see how much of that spirit there was. Individuals led, driving others on. That's what it's about; getting players on buses, all aiming for the same destination . . ."

Vaughan makes it sound as if that spirit was forged in adversity during the roller-coaster summer ride. "There was never anyone out there not trying," he said. "When we ended up with just four wickets on that first day at The Oval, I sensed people had written us off. For the crowds to jeer and for people to write that we were complete rubbish was pretty unfair. Still, I guess that's why they gave me the job because they felt I could cope with those sort of pressures."

Not just cope with them, but actually thrive on them.

Vaughan senses that cricket is riding a new "feelgood wave" for British sport, headed by "the rugby men going to the World Cup as favourites". "The summer of cricket was spectacular; the weather was great, the Tests were enthralling, even Phil Tufnell becoming king of the jungle helped," he smiles.

"We even saw hen parties coming to Tests at Nottingham and Lord's. Whether that's the Jimmy Anderson appeal I'm not sure but it showed me that those who always say 'when the older audience go, cricket will die' have got it wrong. I want to keep that momentum going this winter."

Inevitably, there's a harder edge to Vaughan these days than the man whose only care in the world last winter appeared to be whether he could turn his hundreds into double tons yet, for the moment, he retains the boyish enthusiasm to still represent everything that's best about English cricket's fresh face.

"Only one thing. Anyone tries to talk to me about cricket in January, they'll get the middle finger," he grins. After all, he'll have a wife to get to know.