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Many pundits had been hoping that Michael Vaughan would be selected for the England tour of South Africa, but the Manchester-born Yorkshire batsman was surprised to hear of his inclusion yesterday after finding himself short of runs this summer.

His hopes, fast receding, were revived by the news that he would be joining two county colleagues, Gavin Hamilton and Darren Gough. ``I was a bit shocked, but not too much,'' Vaughan said. ``It was a great honour when I first saw my name there. I was surprised but not amazed because I believe in my own ability.

``It's been tough all year, especially for our opening batters at Yorkshire, on the pitches we've played. I'm delighted. I still think I'm a better player than I was a year ago, just through the experience of what I've gone through this season.''

Apart from two hundreds at Chelmsford in May, Vaughan has managed only two championship fifties and, in all cricket, seven substantial scores from 47 innings. ``I haven't played as well as I know I can,'' he said.

His English season seemed to suffer from the same curse, from a good England A tour to South Africa last winter, that afflicted Mal Loye and Matthew Windows, and even Andrew Flintoff, safely on the senior tour, found it tough scoring runs on his return to Lancashire.

Vaughan's A trip enhanced his reputation because he led the tour well and improved his off-spin from mediocre to decent under the guidance of John Emburey, the tour coach.

Hamilton was hoping for an all-round berth on the England A tour to Bangladesh and New Zealand, but to be drafted straight into the senior tour was, in his words, ``quite awesome''. He said he was fulfilling a dream that everyone had, but few realised.

He said: ``Things have panned out incredibly well for me. A year ago I wasn't certain which way my career was going, but I started this season in the World Cup for Scotland and I've finished by being picked by England. It's just incredible.''

Gough begins his fitness programme today, starting with treadmill work to strengthen his calf before graduating to outdoor training.

It is too early for Vaughan and Hamilton to dream of England debuts. Before they leave they have to halt Yorkshire's slide down the CGU National League table and coax them up the championship table, where a first runners-up finish since 1975 is a realistic ambition.