Vaughan's men run ragged

Second Test: South Africa's dominance emphasises need for change but options are few

England will go behind in the npower Test series against South Africa some time today unless there is a monumental performance at odds with their exhibition so far. They were still 59 runs short last night of avoiding their heaviest defeat and any loss will provoke a loud debate about the new age under Michael Vaughan.

There will be calls both for change and for Vaughan to stamp his personal authority on the team quickly. Stamping his foot on a backside or two may also have occurred to him.

South Africa led by 380 runs at the close of the third day and need eight more second-innings wickets, having captured the crucial duet of Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick. By contrast, England have now garnered 15 of the tourists' wickets in the series so far while conceding 1,276 runs of which 621 have been scored by South Africa's captain, Graeme Smith. The home side have also dropped catches galore, five of them here.

The England all-rounder, Andrew Flintoff, said after play: "We're looking for how to get out of this mess and get a draw. There's plenty of cricket left in the match, and who knows there might be two of us left at the crease on Monday." The first-innings margin was the largest England have suffered. The weight of the defeat and the amount of resistance may temper calls for change. But any argument is much more likely to include precisely what that change should be. A case for six different faces could be reasonably made but the selectors would be hard-pushed to remember what they look like.

There appear to be several gaping gaps to plug. This might be at odds with Vaughan's initial assessment that he has been handed a talented young team or with the analysis of the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, that "the building blocks are in place". But England have been comprehensively outplayed for two successive matches, first under the leadership of Nasser Hussain who dramatically resigned last Monday, and now under Vaughan.

The places of three senior players will be subject to particularly close scrutiny. Darren Gough has bowled with spirit but no conviction. He did not look like taking a wicket - except when Mark Butcher put down one of five missed catches - and his courageous career may be over.

Hussain looks weary, as though he has had enough. The job of captain may have consumed him in every sense, though his batting today may alter his perception. Alec Stewart could have heralded his own demise by announcing his intention to retire after the Fifth Test at The Oval but there probably comes a point when enough is enough.

For those who will declaim that England need some experience, the critics will demand to know where it has got them so far. The selectors have a tough task to perform in the next fortnight.