Despite his long-awaited comeback ending in a seven ball duck - and another humiliating defeat for an England side in Australia - Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan declared himself happy with his return to competitive cricket.

After a warm welcome from the locals and some English-style weather to usher in his return, Vaughan was shown little sympathy by WA skipper Darren Wates, who had him caught behind by keeper Christian Moir.

And although Vaughan's ECB Academy side slumped to an embarrassing 40-run defeat to Western Australia's second XI, Vaughan was still happy to be back after six months out with a recurring knee injury.

"It is slightly disappointing I did not get any runs, but today was all about getting back playing cricket, so it is a huge positive for me," Vaughan said.

"It is the early stages of a comeback, but six months ago I never thought I would get to this stage of playing cricket again.

"It was a real tough time, and thankfully I got to this day. Next week I can hopefully get a few runs and spend a little bit more time in the middle."

In his first match since May, when he last played for his county Yorkshire, Vaughan's return was delayed for over an hour by unseasonal WA rain, and he was then made to wait for a return to the crease by skipper Robert Key.

Winning the toss, Key chose to bowl in blustery and overcast conditions, placing Vaughan at mid-on, and then fine leg following a vigorous early morning warm-up.

After fielding for around half the 44 overs, Vaughan was pencilled in to bat at four - and was called on in the fifth over after Matt Prior and Owais Shah both fell cheaply.

But after leaving his first three deliveries and being denied two quick singles by Key, Vaughan edged his seventh for an anti-climactic return.

If England was looking for good omens ahead of Friday's second Test in Adelaide, it wouldn't have got them from the Academy's performance, conceding 218 runs and then slumping to five for 12, eventually losing by 40 runs.

The 32 year-old Vaughan said he had had no initial physical reaction to his return, and would focus on more practice before taking the field for a similar fixture next Wednesday.

As for an Ashes return, he would not be drawn.

"Over the next few days we will be having plenty of practice, plenty of middle practice and I hope to play a full part in next Wednesday's game," Vaughan said.

"You can net as much as you want ... actually playing games is what I need.

"I honestly don't know (about the Ashes). This has been the first day of what has been a long rehab program, so I have got to look to train hard, play the game next week and look to play a few more games and see where it takes us.

"The goal for me to play cricket was January, so to be playing today and actually get the whites on was a lot sooner than we all expected so that is a very good sign."

Vaughan has not played a Test since England played Pakistan in Lahore in November 2005.

Planning to stay with the Academy squad in the coming weeks, Vaughan will play next week, before targeting two tour matches in Perth in early December.

The tourists play Australia's Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill on December 8, and a two-day game against WA the next day.

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