Vaughan Targets VB Series

England’s crocked captain Michael Vaughan believes he still has a chance of playing in the triangular one-day series against Australia and New Zealand in the new year.

Vaughan is resigned to missing the Ashes but will fly down under shortly before Christmas in the hope of playing some warm-up games.

He said, “there is a lot of rehab still to go, there are a lot of hurdles still to get over but I hope over the next few weeks I will pick up a cricket bat and start batting. The last stage of the rehab will be to get out on the pitch, batting and bowling, and I hope to do that some time in December. Then I have to ask the selectors: Can I play again? I’ve done some straight-line running. That has gone pretty well- but it is the twisting and turning which will be the tough one.”

England have struggled in one-day Cricket in Vaughan’s absence. He has never been regarded as a great one-day player, but the last time he captained England in one-day Cricket was last summer, when they went toe-to-toe with Australia. If he is to return for the VB series, and subsequently the World Cup, it will surely be a boost for all concerned.