By Caroline Cheese

Vaughan is a "smashing bloke", according to his former team-mate

Michael Vaughan's reputation as being unflappable is likely to undergo its sternest test yet if and when he is unveiled as England's one-day captain.

Vaughan, born in Lancashire but definitely a Yorkshireman in his own eyes, has become renowned for his cool-headedness in his steady rise through the ranks at Yorkshire to his current lofty position as the best batsman in the world.

And his 145 in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, which saved England from a third straight innings defeat, proved he is capable of performing under the harshest of spotlights.

But questions are bound to be raised about the wisdom of burdening England's most reliable performer, at Test level if not yet in one-day internationals, with the added responsibility of the captaincy.

According to reports, Vaughan will be offered the captaincy this week and an official announcement will be made early next week.

David Byas, a former team-mate of Vaughan's at Yorkshire, believes Vaughan has exactly the right temperament to deal with such a potentially daunting step.

"You can see the character of the man in the way he's kept on making progress since coming onto the international scene," Byas told the BBC Sport website.

"Michael is the sort of person who just gets on with the job in hand and doesn't let anything distract him.

He was never particularly vocal in the dressing room David Byas

"He's already had to handle a huge amount of pressure by leading England's batting at the top of the order - and he's taken all that brilliantly."

Byas, who left Yorkshire in 2001 and retired at the end of last season, recalls Vaughan was a "smashing bloke" to have around the dressing room.

And the former Yorkshire captain says Vaughan's calm assurance can inspire those around him, in the same way that David Beckham leads by example for the England football team.

"I don't think you'll see too much of a difference in attitude or personality once he takes up the job," he said.

"I think it is his calm composure that has got him the job and his performances on the field will do as much to inspire his team-mates as anything.

"He's a level-headed lad and I think he'll take the position in his stride.

"He was never the sort of person who was particularly vocal in the dressing room, although if he had something to say he would say it, and I don't think that will change."

Vaughan is likely to need a cool head as he considers the rebuilding of a team stripped of six World Cup squad members through retirement and injury.

"Well, his first job will be to get a team together," Byas said.

"He will be mindful of the World Cup in four years time but he needs to start instilling confidence in the team again after the last World Cup.

"He will definitely have his own ideas and his own plans about how to go about that."

He will lead the team out for the first time in a three-match series against Pakistan in June when England fans will get their first look at the man they hope will lead their country to a first ever World Cup trophy in 2007.