IT'S ironic that Yorkshire have brought Darren Gough back from Essex to captain his native county - when we already have one of the best captains in the world.

Michael Vaughan is a proven leader. He won us back the Ashes (and how we missed him in Australia during the winter) and is heading off tomorrow to the West Indies to resume his leadership of England.

There can be no doubt that what Michael needs right now is games, so wouldn't it have been great to have him coming back from a World Cup campaign to take Yorkshire into a new Championship season?

These central contracts can be a damned nuisance.

Okay, if all goes well and he regains fitness and scores some runs, Michael will be needed by his country again during the summer, but there's no guarantee.

If Yorkshire could have Vaughan when he's available, and Anthony McGrath as his vice-captain, the white rose could yet blossom.

Instead it seems we might be relying on an admittedly great character, but one whose career has been on the wane for the best part of this decade and who has played very little four-day cricket throughout that time.