The Headingley Test match will be remembered for its numbing cold but it was a warming occasion not only for Ryan Sidebottom but also for England captain Michael Vaughan.

The sheer bad luck and misfortune which has struck the Yorkshire opening batsman ever since he became a national hero by leading his country to the Ashes victory in 2005 finally came to an end on his home ground.

Vaughan missed the first Test, of course, after breaking his right middle finger while batting for Yorkshire in their Championship match against Hampshire at Southampton.

He was spending time with his county in order to build up his form after being out of Test cricket for so long with knee and hamstring injuries.

Many people felt that Headingley was too soon for Vaughan to make his long-awaited return and that he should have got one or two more games in with Yorkshire first.

But his eagerness to lead his country was vindicated as he knuckled down to registering his 16th Test century, his 103 coming in 235 minutes off 173 balls with 11 fours.

And England's massive victory saw him equal Peter May's record of captaining England to 20 wins - although Vaughan has achieved the feat in 34 Tests whereas it took May 41.

Mike Brearley is considered one of England's most astute captains but he engineered only 18 wins in 39 matches.

Now Vaughan is all set at Old Trafford to become the first English captain to lead his side to 21 victories.

Vaughan thoroughly deserves his change of luck but had he failed at Headingley it could have put both England and Yorkshire into a difficult situation.

Pressure was beginning to build on Vaughan to prove his form at county level rather than coming straight back to Test cricket at the expense of another batsman.

That pressure would have intensified had he not succeeded but would it have been in Yorkshire's best interests to have him back?

They, too, would have had to leave someone out in order to accommodate him, and that person would have to pick up the pieces again once Vaughan left for the summer.

If Vaughan can now lead England to further glories and Yorkshire go on to win the Championship then everyone will be happy.