Budding Michael Vaughans will play on better pitches, the school says

Vaughan, who led the England team out for the second Test match against Australia on Thursday, was a pupil at Silverdale School in Sheffield.

Under outline plans granted this week, the crumbling school will be demolished and rebuilt on existing playing fields.

The plans were approved despite 58 letters of objection from residents.

Opponents say the playing fields, which border the Peak District National Park, should be protected because they are on green belt land.

Sheffield City Council admits that the plans were not contained in its unitary development plan and will, therefore, have to be referred to the Secretary of State.

The Michael Vaughans of the future will actually have much better facilities Sheffield City Council spokeswoman

However, the council stressed that once the old school was demolished new playing fields would be laid.

"The Michael Vaughans of the future will actually have much better facilities, including an all-weather pitch," a council spokeswoman said.

"That will replace the current cricket pitch which is barely usable."

The proposed layout of the site would increase the amount of external space by more than 10,000 square metres.

The spokeswoman added: "The buildings are in a very poor state and are some of the worst in the city.

"It is now urgent that they are replaced in order to improve the poor quality environment that students and staff are currently coping with.