Injured Vaughan returns home by AFP

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Player:	MP Vaughan
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 4th December 2005

 

England captain Michael Vaughan returned home early Sunday to get an expert opinion on a knee injury ahead of a one-day series against Pakistan.

 

"I will see a specialist on Monday and get an opinion on my right knee," Vaughan said after his Ashes-winning side lost a three-Test series 2-0 against Pakistan on Saturday.

 

Vaughan, 31, suffered the injury during a warm-up match which forced him to skip the first Test at Multan last month.

 

England lost the first Test by 22 runs and drew the second at Faisalabad before being thrashed by an innings and 100 runs in the final match here.

 

This was England's first Test series defeat after winning six in a row, including the Ashes against formidable Australia in September, under Vaughan's captaincy.

 

The England team management said if Vaughan needed an operation he might not return for the five one-dayers against the hosts and opener Marcus Trescothick would lead the side.

 

The first one-dayer starts here on December 10.

 

England are scheduled to tour India early next year for three Tests and five one-dayers.

 

Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who returned home last week because of a hip injury, is also racing against time to get fit for the India tour.

 

Opener Andrew Strauss will also miss the one-day series as he has returned home to attend the birth of his child.

 

England have summoned all-rounder Ian Blackwell and paceman Kabir Ali and put batsman Ian Bell on standby in case Vaughan fails to return for one-dayers.

 

Batsman Vikram Solanki has joined England's one-day squad.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)