Vaughan to miss Ashes

England captain Michael Vaughan is all but out of the upcoming Ashes series, as he will have knee surgery on Monday.

This surgery will put him out of action for four to six months, and recovery is extremely unlikely for the Brisbane test on November 23. He may well be fit for the one-day series starting in January however.

England will now be without the man who led them to regain the Ashes last year, and it is widely accepted his captaincy was a big part of the triumph.

England are already many key players down with injury, and Vaughan is the second player out of the Ashes so far, along with Simon Jones, although the Glamorgan pace bowler believes he may recover in time.