He bowled close to his best on a number of occasions during the Ashes... most notably when he was entrusted with the new ball at the WACA: see http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausve...ch/249221.html

Oooh.. look at the scorecard there: it seems one Andrew Strauss was captain....

Vaughan's return seems to have released the shackles and today's excellent ODI performance has looked ever more likely since that date: he looked stacks better in the last game and the final boost came with an excellent catch and then a good wicket - after which he just looked like a bowler who believed he belonged (and could rip a side apart) rather than (as he did under Flintoff) like a guy the captain included under sufference and didn't really trust (and who was expected to get carted).