Vaughan eyes improvement

Michael Vaughan

Injured captain Michael Vaughan admits it is time England got their one-day game back “on track” as preparations for next year’s World Cup intensify.

England are due to return to limited-overs action next week as they begin a five-match series against Pakistan.

After that England will have just this autumn’s ICC Champions Trophy in India and the VB Series in Australia next year to prepare for the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Vaughan, who is likely to be out of action until next year as he recovers from knee surgery, said: “It is important we try to get the one-day game on track and win this series against Pakistan.

England posses many talented players © Getty Images

“That will give us momentum for the ICC Champions Trophy and then it will be the VB Series and the World Cup. But the important thing right now is this series.”

The series against Pakistan had been in some doubt as a result of the ongoing ball-tampering row involving the tourists but it now looks likely to go ahead as scheduled.

Vaughan, 31, will again be confined to a watching role as he continues his rehabilitation but he was impressed with the team in their 3-0 Test win over Pakistan, including the performances of Ian Bell and Alastair Cook.

Bell hit three centuries and averaged 93.75 over the four Tests while Cook scored 403 runs, with two hundreds, in his seven innings.

Vaughan said: “They have played very well and they have certainly looked like they will have good England careers.

Ian Bell is in sensational form for England © Getty Images

“It is always nice when young players do well but Paul Collingwood and is a good player too and Kevin Pietersen also played well so I don’t like to single anyone out.

“They have all done well this summer with victory over Pakistan. They have played some good cricket in the series and have got some momentum going. It has been hard not being involved but I’ve tried just to focus on my rehab.”

Vaughan was speaking at the Persil Skills Ball Live! event, an initiative which encourages parents to participate in sport with their children, at the Truman Brewery in London on Wednesday afternoon.

He said: “It is very important parents realise the role sport can play in the lives of their children.”

Vaughan has not played international cricket this year and is likely to be out until after this winter’s Ashes series. He has not entirely given up hope, however, of playing some part against the Australians Down Under.

Vaughan is not giving up hope of playing in the Ashes © Getty Images

“It is still very early stages,” said Vaughan. “To make any kind of prediction about a comeback would be impossible. I am only seven weeks post-operation and there is still a long road ahead.

“I am just looking at it on a week-to-week basis. I am off my crutches now and walking but I am still a long way off running.

“There is only a small chance (of playing in the Ashes). I am likely to be playing cricket of some nature in December but you can’t go from not playing for 12 months straight into international cricket.”

There is still uncertainty over who will captain England in Vaughan’s absence with Andrew Flintoff having originally been appointed but Andrew Strauss having led the side impressively against Pakistan.

Flintoff missed the Pakistan series due to an ankle problem and his fitness to face Australia is not yet certain.

Vaughan added: “He has done very well but Andrew Flintoff didn’t do himself any harm either so it will be a tough decision.”