Vaughan to miss Ashes

Michael Vaughan, England’s captain, will definitely miss the upcoming Ashes in Australia. An ECB spokesman told BBC: “We can confirm the specialist said Vaughan will not be available for the Ashes series.”

Vaughan had to have yet more surgery on his right knee this week, after it kept him out of England’s recent tour of India.

Vaughan had attempted a comeback with Yorkshire this season, but only managed 178 runs at an average of under 30 in three First Class games before the knee trouble flared up again.

However, England’s chairman of selectors David Graveney tried to put suggestions that Vaughan’s future is at risk to rest. “There is no suggestion that Michael Vaughan’s career is under threat,” he told BBC radio.

This is another huge blow to England as they try to retain the Ashes after regaining them for the first time in 18 years in 2005. Vaughan joins paceman Simon Jones, who is more than likely to miss the series, on the sidelines.