Dellmar: England skipper Michae Vaughan is lifted by team-mate Kevin Pietersen (left), while West Indies fas t bowler Jerome Taylor (right, back to camera) reflects during action on the first day of the second Test at Headingley, Leeds yesterday. and Dellmar:England batsman Kevin Pietersen (right) is stumped by West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (centre), but off a no-ball bowled by Chris Gayle (out of pic) during first day action in the second cricket Test at Headingley, Leeds, yesterday. Looking on is Daren Ganga.

LEEDS, England (CMC):

West Indies bowlers failed to ease concerns that they are the weak link and England captain Michael Vaughan and batting star Kevin Pietersen hit hundreds in the second Test yesterday.

West Indies again failed to keep a consistent line and length, as Vaughan celebrated his return to the helm of the England Test side with 106 and Pietersen helped himself to his second straight hundred - an undefeated 130 - to lift the hosts to 366 for five when stumps were drawn on the opening day at Headingley.

Looked promising

West Indies looked to be getting into gear, when Vaughan arrived at the wicket for his first Test innings in 18 months, after a lacklustre first half-hour from the visitors.

Daren Powell had just claimed Andrew Strauss, one of Vaughan's stand-ins during his extended period of absence, caught behind for 15 in the first half-hour.

When Jerome Taylor had Vaughan caught at deep mid-wicket almost three hours later, he had once and for all silenced the critics that had believed he was rushing back into the game unprepared.

Vaughan had spent the last 18 months nursing a career-threatening knee injury and then a fortnight ago a setback with a broken finger forced him to miss the first Test of this series at Lord's.

West Indies found Pietersen, a player whose stocks soared during Vaughan's absence, similarly impenetrable during a 163-run stand for the third wicket, after Chris Gayle had Alastair Cook adjudged lbw on the stroke of lunch for 42, following a second wicket stand of 53.

The visitors had an early chance to claim Pietersen's scalp, but Gayle failed to adequately negotiate the popping crease and he had a stumping chance denied when the tall, rugged England batsman was on 20.

Again, West Indies paid a heavy price for such indiscipline, as Vaughan and Pietersen filled their trough to their hearts' delight.

Vaughan had emerged from a slow start and reached his 16th Test hundred, when he edged Taylor through the legs of first slip fielder Gayle for the last of his 11 boundaries before the same bowler claimed his scalp a few overs later.

Remained unflappable

Pietersen continued merrily and was soon engaged in his own celebrations. He reached his eighth Test hundred which followed his undefeated 109 in the second innings of the firstTest, when he drove Powell for the 13th of his 15 fours. He remained unflappable until the end, despite England losing two more wickets in the final session.

West Indies gave Paul Collingwood what now seems an obligatory slice of fortune when he replaced Vaughan at the crease. Runako Morton dropped Collingwood at second slip off Powell and the England batsman added a valuable 62 for the fourth wicket with Pietersen before Corey Collymore had him caught at first slip for 29 edging a well-pitched ball moving away.

Made changes

Collymore was making the old ball wobble nicely and four overs later, he added the scalp of Ian Bell caught behind for five snicking another well-pitched delivery that left the batsman.

Both sides made changes to their line-ups from the first Test which ended in a draw last Monday at Lord's.

England made two changes, bringing back Vaughan to lead their side and including left-arm fast-medium bowler Ryan Sidebottom in place of Owais Shah and the injured Matthew Hoggard.

West Indies were forced into making a late change with Sylvester Joseph coming into the line-up for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is carrying a right knee injury.

West Indies play four Tests, two Twenty20 Internationals, and a five one-day international on their two-month tour.

West Indies working to restrict England for under 450.