Knee injury casts doubt on Vaughan's fitness for Pakistan Test by AFP

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Ground:	Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore
Scorecard:	Pakistan A v England XI
Player:	MP Vaughan
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 7th November 2005

 

England captain Michael Vaughan may miss the first Test against Pakistan unless a knee injury which he suffered on Monday responds to treatment, the team doctor said.

 

Vaughan twisted his right knee on the second morning of the three-day tour match against a Pakistan A team in the easternmost city of Lahore. The first Test starts in Multan on Saturday.

 

Vaughan twisted the same knee in an accident in the nets before the series against New Zealand, when he missed the first Test last year.

 

England's doctor Peter Gregory feared the injury may rule Vaughan out of the three-Test series.

 

"The last time he didn't tear the cartilage but if there is a tear then he would be doubtful for the whole series," he said.

 

Gregory said the knee was still very sore "and it's going to be complicated because he hurt the knee before. It's very difficult to say but we need 24-48 hours to see how he responds to treatment."

 

Vaughan, who had yet to score, was injured while going for a run and fell to the ground in pain. He walked off the ground to get treatment.

 

"Usually with those injuries you need an operation but we have asked for the previous scan report done last year and will compare both the scans," said Gregory.

 

The England captain had an operation on the same knee in Australia two years ago.

 

Vaughan came into the second tour match needing some batting practice. He managed just nine and nought in the first game at Rawalpindi last week and 17 in the first innings of the current match.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)