Vaughan eyes number three spot

England captain Michael Vaughan has revealed that he hopes to bat at number three in the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand.

The England captain revealed that he appreciates the "quiet interim of reflection" afforded by going in to bat first wicket down.

And with Andrew Strauss recalled to the Test squad, if the Middlesex batsman is selected then Vaughan, 33, may get his wish.

Vaughan said: "I enjoyed opening in Sri Lanka but in an ideal world I would like to bat at three. I feel it's a really good place for a captain to bat.

"You just get that little bit of space and little bit of time to yourself but I also like the fact at three you've got your pads on and you could be in any time.

"You almost have to bat while you're waiting: working out the conditions, what the bowler is doing, what the pitch is doing."

Strauss is likely to be challenged for a starting spot by Owais Shah, who tends to bat further down the order.

Vaughan added: "Whatever we decide upon I think it is important we become settled for a while, to get used to playing in those positions together.

"But it is very open at the moment and it would be silly not to be. If it was set in stone now, it would be almost disregarding the one-dayers and that is not what we want to do.

"Someone like Owais Shah could go and get two or three hundreds in the one-day games. If he is in the form of his life, he has a really good chance of playing in the Test team."

Vaughan, feeling fitter than at any point since returning from an 18-month knee injury lay-off, is keen for another competitive Ashes challenge in 2009 and wants to play one final series down under after relinquishing the captaincy.

"I know I am good enough to be there. Whether I am there in 2009 - it is still a long way off - I still have ambition to go on beyond it," he added.

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